Magazine and paper publications
A recent UKWIR Report on options for charging UK food service establishments based on the fats, oils and grease (FOG) content of their wastewater raises many fascinating questions. Alongside the practical and economic challenges of implementation, it notes our limited understanding of how these materials pose a risk to sewerage …
Two more stories chosen from our Green Stories: Microbes to the Rescue anthology, equal to about 30 mins listening in the Audiobook version. The anthology is also available as a free eBook on the Resources page. This month’s selections are: Chapter 3: A Day at Work by Sonia Heaven, Charles Banks and Sigrid Kusch-Brandt, UK – …
The Circular Bio-based Europe Joint Undertaking (CBE JU) has published a report on its latest achievements and progress. The report shows increased participation, growing community engagement and high demand for new funding. Over 1,700 stakeholders connected via the CBE JU networking platform, and the widening participation strategy produced a record …
The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) has inaugurated its new President, Dr David Greenfield, and launched the 2025 Presidential report This study on Lost Opportunities? Winning Back Materials To Drive the UK’s Circular Economy makes interesting reading for those in the waste management sector – but is also thought-provoking …
Congratulations to Dr Hannah Bird and her colleagues at Newcastle University on their recent paper: Understanding the limitations of substrate degradation in bioelectrochemical systems. Bird, H., Velasquez-Orta, S. and Heidrich, E., 2025. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, p.1511142. Dr Sharon Velasquez-Orta, EBNet’s WG Lead on Bioelectrochemical systems, said: “This study forms …
A quick reminder on the Second International Symposium on Microfluidics for Single Cell Sensing and Sequencing (ISM3S): Environment and Health. This event takes place on 29-30 July 2025 in Oxford, UK with support from EBNet’s ESWS WG. Meanwhile look out for some recent publications by Prof Zhugen Yang, who leads …
The Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Hub (EBIC) led by Prof Frederic Coulon has launched a quarterly podcast series. The first episode on How can biofilms and bacteria be used to breakdown plastic? is presented by Prof Ronan McCarthy and Lyuboslava Harkova of Brunel University and was launched for World Environment Day …
Ofwat’s Water Breakthrough Challenge 5 has awarded almost £2M to fund the SandSCAPE project which will trial robotic underwater skimming machines as a way to clean slow sand filters (SSF) without draining them of water. This novel approach preserves the unique biology of the system, improving performance and resilience, and …
A new book from the Royal Society of Chemistry contains a chapter on Respirometry of Organic Solid Wastes: Methods and relevance to understanding the composting process and end-product stability, authored by EBNet member Tom Aspray of Solid Sense Ltd. EBNet has done relatively little work to date on composting technologies, …
Each month we are highlighting 2-3 stories from our Green Stories: Microbes to the Rescue anthology, equivalent to about 30 mins listening in the Audiobook version. The anthology is also available as a free eBook on the Resources page. This month’s selections are: Chapter 1: Up Shit’s Creek by Brian Adams, …
Congratulations to Dr Francis Hassard, the Water Biofilms WG Lead, and his colleagues on two recent papers describing novel advances in slow sand filtration (SSF). The technology also features in the WG’s animation Innovation in SSF: A sustainable solution for clean water. A subtitled version is available here. For an …
Dr Francis Hassard, the Lead of EBNet’s Water Biofilms Working Group, is keen to hear the sector’s views on how slow sand filters (SSF) can keep pace with tomorrow’s drinking-water challenges. On 22 January 2025, EBNet brought together researchers, utilities and regulators at the Royal Society of Chemistry, London to …
Microbiologically-Influenced Corrosion or MIC is of interest to at least two of EBNet’s Working Groups – the Bioelectrochemical Systems and Anaerobic Fermentation WGs, which supported a forthcoming materials study. The full report is embargoed for now, but an outline is available here. Meanwhile a recently-published review by one of the …
Some interesting new publications this month in the field of Anaerobic Fermentation and biorefineries. Recent developments and future perspectives of marine macroalgae biorefinery in a circular bioeconomy approach. Lawrence, J., Oliva, A., Murphy, J.D. and Lens, P.N., 2025. Research Handbook of Innovation in the Circular Bioeconomy, pp.260-271. Critical factors influencing biohythane …
IEA Bioenergy’s Task 36: Material and Energy valorisation of waste in a Circular Economy has published a report on Social and Environmental Sustainability of Municipal Solid Waste in the Context of the UN SDGs. The work builds on input from participants in a series of regional workshops held in South Africa, …
