The potential ecotoxicological impact of pharmaceutical and personal care products on humans and freshwater, based on USEtoxTM characterization factors. A Spanish case study of toxicity impact scores.

Producción CientíficaPharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) are being increasingly included in Life Cycle Assessment studies (LCAs) since they have brought into evidence both human and ecological adverse effects due to their presence in different environmental compartments, wastewater facilities and industry. Therefore, the main goal of this research was to estimate the characterization factors (CFs) of 27 PPCPs widely used worldwide in order to incorporate their values into Life Cycle Impact Assessment studies (LCIA) or to generate a toxicity impact score ranking. Physicochemical properties, degradation rates, bioaccumulation, ecotoxicity and human health effects were collected from experimental data, recognized databases or estimated using EPI SuiteTM and the USEtoxTM software, and were subsequently used for estimating CFs. In addition, a Spanish toxicity impact score ranking was carried out for 49 PPCPs using the 27 newly calculated CFs, and 22 CFs already available in the literature, besides the data related to the occurrence of PPCPs in the environment in Spain. It has been highlighted that emissions into the continental freshwater compartment showed the highest CFs values for human effects (ranging from 10-9 to 10-3 Cases·kg-1), followed by emissions into the air (10-9 to 10-5 Cases·kg-1), soil (10-11 to 105 Cases·kg-1) and seawater (10-12 to 10-4 Cases·kg-1). CFs regarding the affectation of freshwater aquatic environments were the highest of those proceeding from emissions into continental freshwater (between 1 to 104 PAF·m3·day·kgemission-1) due to the direct contact between the source of emission and the compartment affected, followed by soil (among 10-1 to 104 PAF·m3·day·kgemission-1), and air (among 10-2 to 104 PAF·m3·day·kgemission-1) while the lowest were the CFs of continental seawater (among 10-28 to 10-3 PAF·m3·day·kgemission-1). Freshwater aquatic ecotoxicological CFs are much higher than human toxicity CFs, demonstrating that the ecological impact of PPCPs in aquatic environments must be a matter of urgent attention. According to the Spanish toxicity impact score calculated, the PPCPs with the highest impact are hormones, antidepressants, fragrances, antibiotics, angiotensin receptor blockers and blood lipid regulators, which have already been found in other kinds of score rankings. These results, which were not available until now, will be useful in order to perform better LCIA studies, incorporating the micro-pollutants whose CFs have been estimated, or in order to carry out single hazard/risk environmental impact assessments.2019-07-182019-07-18Junta de Castilla y León-FEDER (Proyecto VA067U16)UIC71Universidad de Carabobo, Venezuela (PhD scholarship grants No. CD-3417 y No. CD-2155

Novel culture chamber to evaluate in vitro plant-microbe volatile interactions: effects of Trichoderma harzianum volatiles on wheat plantlets

.The field of plant-microbe interactions mediated by Biogenic Volatile Organic Compounds (BVOCs) still faces several limitations due to the lack of reliable equipment. We present a novel device designed to evaluate in vitro plant-microbe volatile interactions, the plant-microbe VOC Chamber. It was tested by evaluating the effects exerted on wheat development by volatiles from three Trichoderma harzianum strains, a wild type and two genetically modified strains; one expressing the tri5 gene, which leads to the synthesis and emission of the volatile trichodiene, and the other by silencing the erg1 gene, impairing ergosterol production. The wild type and the erg1-silenced strain enhanced fresh weight and length of the aerial part, but reduced root dry weight. Interestingly, no differences were found between them. Conversely, the tri5-transformant strain reduced root and aerial growth compared to the control and the other strains. No differences were observed regarding chlorophyll fluorescence quantum yield and leaf chlorophyll content, suggesting that the released BVOCs do not interfere with photosynthesis. The plant-microbe VOC Chamber proved to be a simple and reliable method to evaluate the in vitro effects of microbial BVOCs on plant development, perfect for the screening of microorganisms with interesting volatile traits. Availability of data and materials The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding authors (Antonio Encina and Samuel Álvarez-García) upon reasonable request. All microbiological strains used in this study will be made available to researchers upon reasonable request. VOC Chambers will be made available to researchers upon reasonable request, unless commercial agreements reached with third parties regarding the patent exploitation prohibit it (in which case the VOC Chambers should be available in the market).S

Microbial community changes during different empty bed residence times and operational fluctuations in an air diffusion reactor for odor abatement

Producción CientíficaThe succession of bacterial and fungal populations was assessed in an activated sludge (AS) diffusion bioreactor treating a synthetic malodorous emission containing H2S, toluene, butanone and alpha-pinene. Microbial community characteristics (bacterial and fungal diversity, richness, evenness and composition) and bioreactor function relationships were evaluated at different empty bed residence times (EBRTs) and after process fluctuations and operational failures (robustness test). For H2S, butanone and toluene, the bioreactor showed a stable and efficient abatement performance regardless of the EBRT and fluctuations applied, while low alpha-pinene removals were observed. While no clear positive or negative relationship between community characteristics and bioreactor functions was observed, ecological parameters such as evenness and community dynamics seemed to be of importance for maintaining reactor stability. The optimal degree of evenness of the inoculum likely contributed to the high robustness of the system towards the fluctuations imposed. Actinobacteria, Proteobacteria and Fungi (Hypocreales, Chaeatothyriales) were the most abundant groups retrieved from the AS system with a putative key role in the degradation of butanone and toluene. Typical H2S and alpha-pinene degraders were not retrieved from the system. The inoculation of P. fluorescens, a known alpha-pinene degrader, to the system did not result in the enhancement of the degradation of this compound. This strain was likely outcompeted by the microorganisms already adapted to the AS environment.2019-03-08Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (CTQ2007-64324, 18ISMW)Junta de Castilla y Leon (UIC 476 71

The effect of temperature during culture enrichment on methanotrophic polyhydroxyalkanoate production

Producción CientíficaClimate change and plastic pollution are likely the most relevant environmental problems of the 21st Century. Thus, one of the most promising solutions to remedy both environmental problems simultaneously is the bioconversion of greenhouse gases, such as methane (CH4), into bioplastics (PHAs). However, the optimization of this bioconversion platform is still required to turn CH4 biotransformation into a cost-effective and cost-competitive process. In this context, the research presented here aimed at elucidating the best temperature culture conditions to enhance both PHA accumulation and methane degradation. Six different enrichments were carried out at 25, 30 and 37 °C using different inocula and methane as the only energy and carbon source. CH4 biodegradation rates, specific growth rates, PHA accumulations and the community structure were characterized. Higher temperatures (30 and 37 °C) increased the PHAs accumulation up to 30% regardless of the inoculum. Moreover, Methylocystis became the dominant genus (∼30% of the total population) regardless of the temperature and inoculum used. This research demonstrated for the first time the fundamental role of temperature in increasing both the accumulation of PHAs and methane abatement during the enrichment of PHA cell-factories from methane, thus enhancing the cost-effectiveness of the process.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, TheEuropean FEDER program and the European Commission (CTM2015-73228-JIN, H2020-MSCA-IF-2016: CH4BioVal-GA:750126 and Red NOVEDAR)

Solid – Liquid separation of dairy manure: Distribution of components and methane production

Chemical treatment and screening can be an effective technique for separation of dairy cattle manure into a liquid fraction (LF) and a nutrient-rich solid fraction (SF). The optimum loading of a strong cationic polyacrylamide was found to be 43.9 g kg−1 of dry excreta. The separated SF contained 29.1% of the initial mass present in the manure and the chemicals added. The Volatile Solids (VS)/Total Solids (TS) ratio, which was 0.78 for the manure, rose to 0.82 for the SF and decreased to 0.63 in the LF. Furthermore, the SF retained 76.1, 79.9, 59.4 and 87.4% of TS, VS, Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen and Total Phosphorus, respectively. In the LF, the ratio of filtrate chemical oxygen demand (CODfiltrate) and COD due to volatile fatty acids (CODVFA) in relation to total COD (CODT) were 0.86 and 0.76, respectively. The percentage of anaerobically biodegradable chemical oxygen demand (CODBD) for the LF was 83.0%. Treatment of the LF in high loading anaerobic reactors would be possible due to these COD characteristics. Specific methane production in terms of VS for the separated LF was 0.580 m3 kg−1. For dairy manure and SF, it was 0.320 and 0.258 m3 kg−1, respectivel

Botanical filters for the abatement of indoor air pollutants

Producción CientíficaNowadays, people spend 80–90% of their time indoors, while recent policies on energy efficient and safe buildings require reduced building ventilation rates and locked windows. These facts have raised a growing concern on indoor air quality, which is currently receiving even more attention than outdoors pollution. Prevention is the first and most cost-effective strategy to improve indoor air quality, but once pollution is generated, a battery of physicochemical technologies is typically implemented to improve air quality with a questionable efficiency and at high operating costs. Biotechnologies have emerged as promising alternatives to abate indoor air pollutants, but current bioreactor configurations and the low concentrations of indoor air pollutants limit their widespread implementation in homes, offices and public buildings. In this context, recent investigations have shown that potted plants can aid in the removal of a wide range of indoor air pollutants, especially volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and can be engineered in aesthetically attractive configurations. The original investigations conducted by NASA, along with recent advances in technology and design, have resulted in a new generation of botanical biofilters with the potential to effectively mitigate indoor air pollution, with increasing public aesthetics acceptance. This article presents a review of the research on active botanical filters as sustainable alternatives to purify indoor air.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Ministerio de Universidades (RTI2018-0096441-B-I00)Junta de Castilla y León - EU-FEDER (CLU 2017–09, CL-EI-2021-07, UIC 315

Current concentrations of Zn, Cu, and As in piggery wastewater compromise nutrient removals in microalgae–bacteria photobioreactors due to altered microbial communities

Producción CientíficaSimple Summary: Photobioreactor systems based on consortia of microalgae and bacteria are a promising, efficient and sustainable alternative for treatment of wastewaters with high nitrogen content, such as piggery wastewater. In these biological systems, microorganisms play a key role in wastewater treatment by degradation of organic matter and accumulation of nutrients into the generated biomass. However, these wastewaters often contain high concentrations of zinc, copper and arsenic, which can severely affect the activity and growth of microorganisms, and so, the wastewater treatment performance. This article studies the effect of high concentrations of zinc, copper and arsenic on microbial communities, specifically microalgae and bacteria, in photobioreactors treating piggery wastewater, with the aim of elucidating their impact on wastewater treatment performance. For this purpose, the growth of microalgae and the composition and structure of bacterial communities exposed to these pollutants were studied. The performance of the reactors was also evaluated by determining the removal of nutrients, zinc, copper and arsenic. The results showed that high concentrations of zinc, copper and arsenic in piggery wastewater significantly affect the microbiome of the reactors without recovery after exposure to these contaminants, resulting in poorer performance of the reactors and compromising the environmental and health impact of treated effluents.The treatment of pig manure is a major environmental issue, and photobioreactors containing consortia of microalgae and bacteria have proven to be a promising and sustainable treatment alternative. This work studies the effect of Cu, Zn and As, three toxic elements frequently present in piggery wastewater, on the performance and microbiome of photobioreactors. After dopage with Zn (100 mg/L), Cu (100 mg/L), and As (500 µg/L), the high biomass uptake of Zn (69–81%) and Cu (81–83%) decreased the carbon removal in the photobioreactors, inhibited the growth of Chlorella sp., and affected heterotrophic bacterial populations. The biomass As uptake result was low (19%) and actually promoted microalgae growth. The presence of Cu and As decreased nitrogen removal, reducing the abundance of denitrifying bacterial populations. The results showed that metal(loid)s significantly affected 24 bacterial genera and that they did not recover after exposure. Therefore, this study makes an important contribution on the impact of the presence of metal(loid)s in piggery wastewater that compromises the overall performance of PBRs, and so, the environmental and health impact of treated effluentsMinisterio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades - (projects PID2020-113544RB-I00 y PDC2021-121861-C22)Junta de Castilla y León, Unión Europea y Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) - (project CLU2017-09

Continuous abatement of methane coupled with ectoine production by Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z in stirred tank reactors: A step further towards greenhouse gas biorefineries

This study demonstrates for the first time the feasibility of producing ectoine (a high added value osmoprotectant intensively used in the cosmetic industry) during the continuous abatement of diluted emissions of methane by Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z in stirred tank reactors under non-sterile conditions. An increase in NaCl concentration in the cultivation broth from 3 to 6% increased the intra-cellular ectoine yield by a factor of 2 (from 16.5 to 37.4 mg ectoine (g biomass)−1), while high stirring rates (600 rpm) entailed a detrimental cellular stress and 3 times lower ectoine yields (5.6 mg ectoine (g biomass)−1) compared to process operation at 300 rpm. An increase in Cu2+ concentration from 0.05 to 25 μM enhanced methane abatement by a factor of 2 (up to elimination capacities of 24.5 g m−3 h−1), did not enhance intra-cellular ectoine production but promoted the excretion to the cultivation broth of 20% of the total ectoine synthesized regardless of the NaCl concentration and stirring rate. The results obtained by culture hybridization with the specific probe Mγ1004 showed that Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z accounted for more than 80% of the total bacterial population in most experimental runs. This work confirmed the technical feasibility of a new generation of biorefineries based on the abatement of diluted CH4 emissions using extremophile methanotrophs.2019-03-21Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTM2015-70442-R project and Red NOVEDAR)Unión Europea-FEDER Funding Program y Junta de Castilla y León (hD Grant contract Nº E-47-2014-0140696 y UIC71

Ectoine bio-milking in methanotrophs: A step further towards methane-based bio-refineries into high added-value products

Producción CientíficaThis communication showed for the first time that the methanotrophic strain Methylomicrobium alcaliphilum 20Z (M. alcaliphilum 20Z) can efficiently synthesize and excrete (through a tailored bio-milking process) ectoine under continuous mode using methane (CH4) as the sole energy and carbon source. First, three consecutive 50 h fed batch fermentations consisting of alternating high salinity (6% NaCl for 24 h) and low salinity (0% NaCl for 24 h) cultivation stages were carried out in triplicate to determine the influence of sudden modifications in media salinity on ectoine synthesis and excretion. The results demonstrated that M. alcaliphilum 20Z exhibited a rapid response to osmotic shocks, which resulted in the release of the accumulated ectoine under hyposmotic shocks and the immediate uptake of the previously excreted ectoine during hyperosmotic shocks. A second experiment was carried out under continuous cultivation mode in two sequential stirred tank reactors operated at NaCl concentrations of 0 and 6%. Cells exhibited a constant intra-cellular ectoine concentration of 70.4 ± 14.3 mg g biomass−1 along the entire operation period when cultivated at a NaCl concentration of 6%. The centrifugation of the cultivation broth followed by a hyposmotic shock resulted in the excretion of ∼70% of the total intra-cellular ectoine. In brief, this research shows the feasibility of the continuous bioconversion of diluted CH4 emissions into high added-value products such as ectoine, which can turn greenhouse gas (GHG) abatement into a sustainable and profitable process.Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad (Project CTM2015-70442-R and Red NOVEDAR

Removal of veterinary antibiotics in swine manure wastewater using microalgae-bacteria consortia in a pilot scale photobioreactor

Producción CientíficaScenedesmus almeriensis microalgae-bacteria consortia were evaluated for the removal of a mixture of tetracycline (TET), ciprofloxacin (CIP), and sulfadiazine (SDZ) from the real liquid fraction of pig slurry in a pilot scale photobioreactor. After 15 days of operation, the reactor was spiked with a mixture of /L of each antibiotic. The experiment ran for 20 additional days. From the liquid phase, antibiotic removal were 77 ± 5 %, 90 ± 14 %, and 60 ± 27 % for TET, CIP, and SDZ, respectively. The antibiotics found in the solid phase were 979 ± 382 ng/g for TET and 192 ± 69 ng/g for SDZ; CIP was not detected in the biomass. The parameters analyzed before and after antibiotic addition showed that the antibiotics did not have a negative effect on the reactor biomass. The removal efficiencies of the analyzed parameters were 64.6 ± 0.6 % for TOC, 56.9 ± 0.6 % for IC, 63.9 ± 0.6 % for TN, 88.6 ± 0.9 % for N-NH, 64.9 ± 0.6 % for N-NO, and 30.1 ± 0.3 % for P-PO. This study demonstrated the good performance of microalgae-based technology for swine manure wastewater treatment, not only in terms of organic matter and nutrient removal, but also regarding the removal of antibiotics. The mass balance analysis of the entire process is presented. Additionally, the present study is a validation of previous laboratory scale batch studies operating in a quasi-continuous mode on veterinary antibiotics (VA) removal efficiencies and kinetics.Junta de Castilla León (UIC 071, CLU 2017-09 y VA080G18)Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación y Ministerio de Universidades (PID2020-113544RB-I00, PDC2021-121861-C22)EU-FEDER (CLU 2017-09, CL-EI-2021-07, UIC 315