2019 Report

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EBBL Director’s Message 2019

Welcome to 2019 Annual Report of Environmental Biotechnology & Bioenergy Laboratory (EBBL).

This is our last annual report at Virginia Tech, because EBBL is being moved to Washington University in St. Louis (WashU).

It was a tough decision to leave Virginia Tech. As some of you may know, I am a WashU graduate with my PhD granted in

2007. My PhD adviser Dr. Lars Angenent left WashU one year after my graduation for a position at Cornell University. So, my

expertise will fill in the gap of environmental biotechnology and wastewater treatment in terms of both research and

teaching at WashU. I deeply appreciated the support and opportunities at Virginia Tech that helped to further develop my

career and cultivate EBBL to be a very productive and collaborative platform. We are all proud of being Hokies!

To conclude our last year at Virginia Tech, I would like to thank all the EBBL members, alumni, collaborators, and friends, for

your contributions to the lab. Moving lab (and my family) would certainly create challenges and difficulties, but our lab

continued to perform well. Our members won the first place in WaterJAM poster competition in Wastewater category for the

5th consecutive year. Three lab alumni landed faculty positions at US and Chinese universities.

In 2019, we welcome two new PhD students and one visiting postdoc. We also graduated two PhD students (both of them

continued to postdoc positions at Stanford and USC) and two MS students. Several visiting scholars completed the visit and

returned to their home institutions. We have had a good year with authoring/co-authoring 21 journal papers, three of which

were featured as Cover Articles.

I was appointed as a Co-Editor of Journal of Hazardous Materials (JHM), a high-profile environmental engineering journal. I

also received a Dean’s Award for Excellence in Research and a CAPEES/NANOVA Frontier Research Award.

I am excited to start a new page of EBBL at WashU and look forward to working with all of you in 2020!

Zhen (Jason) He

Professor

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People 2019

2019 New Members

Fubin Liu joined EBBL as a PhD student after completing his MS & BS at Tsinghua University. He has had a great track on bioelectrochemical systems and works on our new collaborative project with Alexandria University in Egypt.

Yanran Xu came to EBBL as a PhD student from the University of Michigan Ann Arbor where she completed a MS study. She received a BS from Tongji University. Yanran works on improving anaerobic digestion for value-added resources.

Dr. Lingen Zhang joined EBBL as a postdoctoral research associate. He completed his PhD training at Shanghai Jiaotong University. He is working on recovery of valuable metals from wastewater by electrochemical methods.

2019 Alumni

Syeed Md Iskander has completed his PhD study. In EBBL, he’s received numerous awards and had an outstanding publication record. His next stop is a postdoctoral research associate at University of Southern California.

Dr. Qingjie Hou has completed his visiting research at EBBL and returned to Shandong University. He has worked on modifying ion exchange membranes for microbial fuel cells and expects to finish one manuscript.

Jessie Chung has completed her MS study in EBBL and will join CDM Smith as a consulting engineer. She worked on leachate treatment by membrane distillation. She was the President of VWEA student chapter at Virginia Tech.

Yuan Pan has completed his visiting research in EBBL and returned to Northeastern University (China) to continue his PhD study. He has published two journals papers and has one submission under review.

Xuejiao Ma has completed her visiting research in EBBL and returned to China University of Geosciences Beijing to continue her PhD study. She had worked on electrochemical nitrate removal and has one submission under review.

Shiqiang (Nick) Zou has completed his PhD in EBBL and moved to Stanford University as a postdoctoral research associate. Shiqiang has a very productive publication record and has actively participated in various activities.

Wei Wang has completed her visiting research in EBBL and returned to China University of Geosciences Beijing to continue her PhD study. She published one journal paper about bacterial deposition of catalysts in MECs.

Beijing, China

AEESP - ASU

WEFTEC, Chicago

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Papers 2019

1. Pan, Y., Zhu, T. and He, Z.* (2019) Energy advantage of

anode electrode rotation over anolyte recirculation for

operating a tubular microbial fuel cell. Electrochemistry

Communications. Vol 106, Article 106529.

2. Wu. S., Liang, G., Guan, X., Qian. G. and He, Z.* (2019) Precise

control of iron activating persulfate by current generation

in an electrochemical membrane reactor. Environment

International. Vol 131, Article 105024.

3. Ye, J., Hu, J., Zhang, Y., Chen, M., Liu, X., Zhou, S.* and He, Z.*

(2019) Light-driven carbon dioxide reduction to methane

by Methanosarcina barkeri-CdS biohybrid. Applied

Catalysis B: Environmental. Vol 257, Article 117916.

4. Zou, S., Smith, E.D., Lin, S.,Martin, S.M.* and He, Z.* (2019)

Mitigation of bidirectional solute flux in forward osmosis

via membrane surface coating of zwitterion functionalized

carbon nanotubes. Environment International. Vol 131,

Article 104970.

5. Liu, X., Novak, J.T. and He, Z.* (2019) Removal of landfill

leachate ultraviolet quenching substances by electricity

induced humic acid precipitation and electrooxidation in a

membrane electrochemical reactor. Science of the Total

Environment. Vol 689, pp 571-579.

6. Wang, W., Zhang, B.* and He, Z.* (2019) Bioelectrochemical

deposition of palladium nanoparticles as catalysts by

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 towards enhanced hydrogen

production in microbial electrolysis cells. Electrochimica

Acta. Vol 318, pp 794-800.

7. Kondaveeti, S., Abu-Reesh, I.M.,* Mohanakrishna, G., Pant,

D. and He, Z. (2019) Utilization of residual organics of

Labaneh whey for renewable energy generation through

bioelectrochemical processes: Strategies for enhanced

substrate conversion and energy generation. Bioresource

Technology. Vol 286, Article 121409.

8. Wang, Z., Wu, S. and He, Z.* (2019) Production of electricity

and water in an osmotic microbial fuel cell by using EDTA-

Na2 as a recoverable draw solute. Science of the Total

Environment. Vol 677, pp 382-389.

9. Zhang, J., Yuan, H., Deng, Y., Abu-Reesh I.M., He, Z.* and

Yuan, C.* (2019) Life cycle assessment of osmosis

microbial fuel cells for simultaneous wastewater

treatment and resource recovery. The International

Journal of Life Cycle Assessment. Vol 24, pp 1962–1975.

10. Chen, M., Zhou, X., Yu, Y., Liu, X., Zeng, R., Zhou, S.* and He,

Z. (2019) Light-driven nitrous oxide production via

autotrophic denitrification by self-photosensitized

Thiobacillus denitrificans. Environment International.

Vol 127, pp 353-360.

11. Li, X., Sun, Y., Wang, Z.* and He, Z.* (2019) Theoretical

understanding of the optimum conditions for a

mainstream granular nitritation-anammox reactor

coupled with anaerobic pretreatment. Science of the Total

Environment. Vol 669, pp 683-691.

12. Zhang, J., Yuan, H., Abu-Reesh I.M., He, Z.* and Yuan, C.*

(2019) Life cycle environmental impact comparison of

bioelectrochemical systems for wastewater treatment.

Procedia CIRP. Vol 80, pp 382-388.

13. Ye, W., Liu, H., Jiang, M., Lin, J.,* Ye, K.,* Fang, S., Xu, Y., Zhao,

S., Van der Bruggen, B. and He, Z. (2019) Sustainable

management of landfill leachate concentrate through

recovering humic substance as liquid fertilizer by loose

nanofiltration. Water Research. Vol 157, pp 555-563.

14. Xu, Z.,* Xu, J., Yin, H., Jin, W., Li, H. and He, Z. (2019) Urban

river pollution control in developing countries. Nature

Sustainability. Vol 2, pp 158-160.

15. Zhao, N., Wang, H., He, Z.* and Yan, Q.* (2019) Ammonia

removal and recovery from diluted forward osmosis draw

solution by using a tubular microbial desalination cell.

Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology.

Vol 5, pp 224-230.

16. Iskander, S., Novak, J.T. and He, Z.* (2019) Reduction of

reagent requirements and sludge generation in Fenton's

oxidation of landfill leachate by synergistically

incorporating forward osmosis and humic acid recovery.

Water Research. Vol 151, pp 310-317.

17. Yang, E., Chae, K.J., Choi, M.J., He, Z. and Kim, I.S.* (2019)

Critical review of bioelectrochemical systems integrated

with membrane-based technologies for desalination,

energy self-sufficiency, and high-efficiency water and

wastewater treatment. Desalination. Vol 452, pp 40-67.

18. Zou, S., Qin, M. and He, Z.* (2019) Tackle reverse solute flux

in forward osmosis towards sustainable water recovery:

reduction and perspectives. Water Research. Vol 149, pp

362-374.

19. Yang, Y., Song, H. and He, Z.* (2019) Mitigation of solute

buildup by using biodegradable and reusable

polyelectrolytes draw solutes in an osmotic membrane

bioreactor. Environmental Science: Water Research &

Technology. Vol 5, pp 19-27.

20. Wu. S., Qian. G. and He, Z.* (2019) Examination of

inorganic-based draw solutes and mitigation of their

reverse solute flux in osmotic microbial fuel cells. Journal

of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology. Vol 94, pp

2107-2114.

21. Li, X. and He, Z.* (2019) Effects of external recirculation on

a two-stage mainstream anaerobic-anammox treatment

system. Water Environment Research. Vol 91, pp 87-92.

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Progress 2019

UVA wins?!

We are moving to WashU!

Academic Family Tree

After 15-year consecutive loss, UVA finally beat VT in

2019 Commonwealth Cup.

We were selected as one of 14

teams to receive grants from US-

Egypt Science and Technology

Joint Fund. Our collaborator Prof.

Salah Hassouna at Alexandria

University will work with us to

develop innovative technology

for resource recovery from

wastewater via integrated BES

and FO systems. The Egyptian Co-

PI Dr. Hanna Moustafa will join us

at WashU as a Postdoctoral

Research Associate funded by

Egyptian Government.

We are fortunate to move from one of the best American college campuses to

another best college campus. In Niche’s 2020 Ranking of Best College Campuses

in America, WashU ranks #2 and Virginia Tech ranks #3.

New Project

Dr. Mohan Qin has accepted a tenure-

track assistant professor position at

University of Wisconsin – Madison. She

will be joined by her husband – Dr.

Haoran Wei who also starts a faculty

position in the same department.

Dr. Heyang (Harry) Yuan has begun his

independent research career as a tenure-

track assistant professor at Temple

University and successfully recruited his

first PhD student.

Seriously, is this really EBBL progress?

The rivalry between VT and UVA is one of most memorable things. One team’s

dominance is not a rivalry. You got to let the other team (e.g., “UVA”) to win

sometimes…

Editorship

Dr. He joined Journal of Hazardous

Materials (JHM) as a Co-Editor. JHM is a

top-tier journal in Environmental

Engineering and focuses on the

fate/removal of materials that have

hazardous effects on human and

environment. Its latest impact factor is

7.650 and CiteScore is 7.91.

Dr. Simiao Wu

has completed

her PhD study

at Shanghai

University, and

accepted a Lecturer position at

Nanjing University of Finance &

Economics. She spent two years

in EBBL as a CSC-funded visiting

PhD student.

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Memories 2019

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

New Orleans Airport Terminal

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Recognition 2019

Syeed Md Iskander won the 1st Place

Presenter on the Annual Research

Symposium of VT Alpha Epsilon

(The Honor Society of Agricultural,

Food, and Biological Engineering).

EBBL’s Winning Tradition Continued

at WaterJAM 2019

The EBBL members have actively participated in 2019

WaterJAM and continued our wining track:

Dr. He received Dean's Award for Excellence in Research

from College of Engineering, Virginia Tech.

Syeed Md Iskander won the Gold Award on the 35th

Annual Research Symposium by VT Graduate Student

Assembly. Shiqiang won the Silver Award from the same

symposium.

Jessie Chung and Zixuan

Wang received their MS

degrees as our last batch

of MS graduates at

Virginia Tech. Jessie will

start her consulting

engineer career at CDM

Smith and Zixuan will

begin his PhD study at

WashU. Congratulations!

Syeed Md Iskander was selected as a 2019

Diversity Scholar by the Office of

Recruitment, Diversity, and Inclusion,

Graduate School, Virginia Tech.

• Zixuan Wang won the poster

competition in Wastewater

category ($1,000);

• Yuan Pan won the 2nd place

in Digital Knowledge

Competition;

• Bing Xu is a team member

that won the 2nd place in

Student Water Challenge.

Dr. He was elected to be a member of

US National Committee Board of

International Water Association. He

will be a Co-Chair of the 10th IWA

Membrane Technology Conference,

which will be at WashU in 2021.

Dr. He received CAPEES/NANOVA Frontier Research

Award. He also received Distinguished Service Award

from Chinese-American Professors in Environmental

Engineering and Science.

The EBBL members participated in the 2019 Big Event

at Virginia Tech, a student-run day of service that has

grown into the second largest event of its kind in the

nation.

Akshay Jain was selected to participate in the Preparing

the Future Professoriate: Global Perspectives program

and visited universities mostly in Switzerland during

the summer of 2019.

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Research Highlights 2019

FO Membrane Modification for Reducing RSF Forward osmosis (FO) has emerged as a promising membrane

technology to yield high-quality reusable water from various

water sources. A key challenge to be solved is the bidirectional

solute flux (BSF), including reverse solute flux (RSF) and

forward solute flux (FSF). Herein, zwitterion functionalized

carbon nanotubes (Z-CNTs) have been coated onto a

commercial thin film composite (TFC) membrane, resulting in

BSF mitigation via both electrostatic repulsion forces induced

by zwitterionic functional groups and steric interactions with

CNTs. At a coating density of

0.97 g m−2, a significantly

reduced specific RSF was

observed for multiple draw

solutes, including NaCl

(55.5% reduction), NH4H2PO4

(83.8%), (NH4)2HPO4

(74.5%), NH4Cl (70.8%), and

NH4HCO3 (61.9%). When a

synthetic wastewater was

applied as the feed to

investigate membrane rejection, FSF was notably reduced by

using the coated membrane with fewer pollutants leaked to the

draw solution, including NH4+-N (46.3% reduction), NO2−-N

(37.0%), NO3−-N (30.3%), K+ (56.1%), PO43−-P (100%), and

Mg2+ (100%). When fed with real wastewater, a consistent

water flux was achieved during semi-continuous operation

with enhanced fouling resistance. This study is among the

earliest efforts to address BSF control via membrane

modification, and the results will encourage further

exploration of effective strategies to reduce BSF.

Source: Zou, S., Smith, E.D., Lin, S., Martin, S.M.* and He, Z.* (2019)

Mitigation of bidirectional solute flux in forward osmosis via

membrane surface coating of zwitterion functionalized carbon

nanotubes. Environment International. Vol 131, Article 104970.

MER Treatment of Leachate UVQS

Persistent UV quenching substances (UVQS) in landfill leachate

can affect the effectiveness of UV disinfection in domestic

wastewater treatment systems when leachate is being co-

treated. As a result, effective onsite leachate pre-treatment will

have to be implemented to reduce the UV quenching capability.

Herein, a membrane electrochemical reactor (MER) was

developed and investigated for treating UV quenching organics

contained in landfill leachate. Compared to a control reactor

that did not have a membrane separator, the MER achieved

significantly higher removals of both dissolved organic carbon

(61.5 ± 4.1%) and UV254nm absorbance (63.4 ± 8.4%). This

enhanced performance was likely due to the combined effects

of humic acid precipitation and augmented oxidation of

organics. The MER was able to remove 89.1 ± 2.9% of total

nitrogen from the leachate while recovering about 51% of the

influent ammonia in the catholyte, in comparison to

38.1 ± 4.4% of total nitrogen removal by the control reactor.

The MER consumed significantly less electrical energy with

specific energy consumption of 70.62 kWh kg−1 DOC or 33.03

kWh kg−1 sCOD, compared to that of the control reactor (211.8

kWh kg−1 DOC or 55.02 kWh kg−1 sCOD). A current density of

20 mA cm−2 was considered optimal in terms of both UVQS

removal and energy efficiency. Consideration should be given

to the spacing of electrodes to minimize internal resistance and

also to avoid trapping of the produced gas bubbles. These

results collectively suggest that the MER is a promising onsite

pretreatment approach for landfill leachate and further

exploration of this technology should be encouraged.

Source: Liu, X., Novak, J.T. and He, Z.* (2019) Removal of landfill

leachate ultraviolet quenching substances by electricity induced

humic acid precipitation and electrooxidation in a membrane

electrochemical reactor. Science of the Total Environment. Vol

689, pp 571-579.

Rotating Anode in MFCs Mixing plays a key role in both electricity generation and

organic removal in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) via affecting

substrate distribution and internal resistance. Herein, two

mixing methods, anode electrode rotation and anolyte

recirculation, were investigated in terms of energy

consumption and production. Anode electrode rotation could

increase the maximum power

density and COD removal by 81.5

and 45.7%, respectively, when

the rotating speed increased from

0 to 45 rpm. Likewise, anolyte

recirculation also improved the

power density and COD removal

by 43.1 and 30.1%, respectively,

at an increasing rate from 0 to

300 mL min−1. The enhancement of electricity generation

became less significant at a high mixing level, likely because

that substrate supply was relatively sufficient and other factors

posed more effects on electricity generation. The MFC with

anode electrode rotation achieved a higher energy balance (e.g.,

0.254 kWh kg COD−1 at 35 rpm) than the one without any

mixing (0.124 kWh kg COD−1), while anolyte recirculation led to

a lower or even negative energy balance compared to that with

no mixing. The results of this study have demonstrated energy

advantages of anode electrode rotation and encouraged further

exploration of energy-efficient mixing methods for MFC

operation. Source: Pan, Y., Zhu, T. and He, Z.* (2019) Energy advantage of

anode electrode rotation over anolyte recirculation for operating a

tubular microbial fuel cell. Electrochemistry Communications.

Vol 106, Article 106529.

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Contact and Direction 2019

Dr. Zhen (Jason) He

Brauer Hall 1026

Danforth Campus

Washington University in St. Louis One Brookings Dr.

St. Louis, MO 63130

Office phone: 314-935-7124

Email: zhenhe@wustl.edu

EBBL

Brauer Hall 1041

Lab webpage: https://ebbl.eece.wustl.edu