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The current demand-supply scenario for fossil fuels requires an alternative energy source with cleaner combustion products whilst production of hydrogen from anaerobic digestion involves the utilization of waste materials and zero emission of greenhouse gasses. However, large scale industrial application has yet not been implemented due to numerous challenges in its production, storage, and transportation. This review study demonstrates that production of hydrogen from anaerobic digestion is potentially a worthy alternative regarding energy density, environmental impact, and cost. Moreover, dependence on fossil fuel systems in the future could be minimized when biohydrogen production is feasible from renewable energy sources.

We have prepared a series of TiO2 nanoparticles for antibacterial applications. These TiO2 nanoparticles were prepared by the hydrolysis precipitation method with Ti(OBu)4, silver nitrate and ammonia. Crystal structure, particle size, interfacial structure and UV-visible light response of the prepared nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis-DRs). The XRD spectra showed that all samples were anatase structure calcined at 450 degrees C for 3 hours. The Ag doping made the peak of diffraction wider. The results of TEM showed that the nanoparticles of TiO2, N-TiO2 and 1% Ag-N-TiO2 were all spherical in shape and well distributed with a mean size of 19.8 nm, 39.2 nm and 20.7 nm, respectively. N doping caused the nanoparticle size to increase, while, when the doped amount of Ag+ increased, the TiO2 particle size decreased. The FTIR revealed that Ag and N doping of TiO2 appeared to have strong absorption by -OH group and showed the characteristic absorption band of NH4+ and Ag. The UV-Vis-DRs indicated that the absorption band of Ag-N co-doped TiO2 had red shift and that the optical absorption response (between 400 nm and 700 nm) had obvious enhancement. The antibacterial properties of nanoparticles were investigated by agar diffusion method toward Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis. The results indicated that both Ag- and N-doped TiO2 could increase the antibacterial properties of TiO2 nanoparticles under fluorescent light irradiation. A 1% Ag-N-TiO2 had the highest antibacterial activity with a clear antibacterial circle of 33.0 mm toward Escherichia coli and 22.8 mm toward Bacillus subtilis after cultivation for 24 hours.

Halomonas sp strain GTW was newly isolated from coastal sediments contaminated by chemical wastewater and was identified to be a member of the genus Halomonas by 16S rDNA sequence analysis and physical and biochemical tests. The optimal decolorization conditions were as follows: temperature 30 degrees C, pH 6.5.0-8.5, NaCl 10-20% (w/v) and the optimal carbon source was yeast exact. The results of experiments demonstrated that the bacteria could decolorize different azo dyes under high salt concentration conditions, and the decolorization rate of five tested azo dyes could be above 90% in 24 h. The exploitation of the salt-tolerant bacteria in the bio-treatment system would be a great improvement of conventional biological treatment systems and the bio-treatment concept.

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Algae is a well-known organism that its characteristic is prominent for biofuel production and wastewater remediation. This critical review aims to present the applicability of algae with in-depth discussion regarding three key aspects: (i) characterization of algae for its applications; (ii) the technical approaches and their strengths and drawbacks; and (iii) future perspectives of algae-based technologies. The process optimization and combinations with other chemical and biological processes have generated efficiency, in which bio-oil yield is up to 41.1%. Through life cycle assessment, algae bio-energy achieves high energy return than fossil fuel. Thus, the algae-based technologies can reasonably be considered as green approaches. Although

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the most common chronic kidney disease. Accumulation of glucose and metabolites activates resident macrophages in kidneys. Resident macrophages play diverse roles on diabetic kidney injuries by releasing cytokines/chemokines, recruiting peripheral monocytes/macrophages, enhancing renal cell injuries (podocytes, mesangial cells, endothelial cells and tubular epithelial cells), and macrophage-myofibroblast transition. The differentiation and cross-talks of macrophages ultimately result renal inflammation and fibrosis in DN. Emerging evidence shows that targeting macrophages by suppressing macrophage activation/transition, and macrophages-cell interactions may be a promising approach to attenuate DN. In the review, we summarized the diverse roles of macrophages and the cross-talks to other cells in DN, and highlighted the therapeutic potentials by targeting macrophages.

The world's increasing population means that more food production is required. A more sustainable supply of fertilizers mainly consisting of phosphate is needed. Due to the rising consumption of scarce resources and limited natural supply of phosphate, the recovery of phosphate and their re-use has potentially high market value. Sewage has high potential to recover a large amount of phosphate in a circular economy approach. This paper focuses on utilization of biological process integrated with various subsequent processes to concentrate and recycle phosphate which are derived from liquid and sludge phases. The phosphate accumulation and recovery are discussed in terms of mechanism and governing parameters, recovery efficiency, application at plant-scale and economy.