Magazine and paper publications
EBNet loves learning about extremophiles, if only because they teach us humility with respect to the limits of our current understanding of individual organisms; never mind that of the complex microbial communities which we harness for environmental protection and remediation. In the present example, scientists from Spain and Germany have …
Earlier this year EBNet’s PFAS WG presented a Position Statement identifying knowledge gaps and the need for development of cost-effective approaches able to degrade PFAS. Since then the WG has: run a successful international workshop co-sponsored by EBNet and the Environmental Biotechnology Innovation Centre (EBIC) – see video playlist presented …
Two recent reports by IEA Bioenergy’s Task 43 add to the literature on assessing and tracking the availability of biomass feedstocks for production of bioenergy, biofuels and bioproducts. The Review of feedstock supply for bioenergy in selected IEA Bioenergy member countries aims to define and inform a structured framework for …
Congratulations to the Project Team and the AD WG for their new publication applying systems thinking to food waste reduction and recovery on a University campus. The paper, published in the Journal of the Operational Research Society, is one outcome from a small project supported by EBNet via our Anaerobic …
Each month we are highlighting selected stories from our Green Stories: Microbes to the Rescue anthology, equivalent to about 30 mins in the Audiobook version. The anthology is also available as a free eBook on the Resources page. This month’s choices are: Chapter 5: What Any Fool Can Do by Vienna O’Shea, UK – a tale …
Researchers in Japan have discovered a species of bacteria that parasitises a methanogen with a key role in anaerobic digestion. This is the first time such bacterium-on-archaeon parasitism has been observed. The bacterium was isolated in a two-strain co-culture with host archaeon Methanospirillum hungatei. The source was digestate from a …
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has published its first Outlook for Biogas and Biomethane: a global geospatial assessment. The report analyses the sector, reviewing current policies, business models, consumption patterns and supply trends. It examines potential environmental impacts, highlighting the importance of minimising associated methane emissions and responsibly managing organic …
An EBNet-funded POC awarded to Dr Tao Lyu, the PFAS WG Lead, looked at the use of molecular docking and dynamics simulations to investigate interactions between enzymes and PFAS compounds, with the goal of helping to elucidate potential mechanisms for PFAS biodegradation and providing tools to bridge the gap between …
A new report from IEA Bioenergy’s Task 42: Biorefining in a Circular Economy highlights the potential of combining biomass-based processes with locally-sourced hydrogen derived from surplus renewable energy. The report includes four case studies – in Australia, Brazil, Italy and the USA – and suggests some guidelines for the establishment …
In January 2025 EBNet supported a by-invitation workshop on GHG emissions in sanitation systems. The workshop was run by EBNet’s N2O WG in conjunction with Prof Barbara Evans and her team at the University of Leeds, and included participants from half a dozen countries. The focus was on measurement of …
A recent UKWIR report aims to evaluate alternatives to traditional water treatment, in particular the effectiveness of low or non-chemical treatments that could replace conventional clarification processes. The research considers a variety of systems with different benefits, and emphasises that each may have advantages in different conditions. Ceramic membranes and …
For anyone who doesn’t already use it, a big shout-out from our AD WG for IEA Bioenergy’s Task 37 Newsletter. This astonishingly comprehensive round-up draws attention to anaerobic digestion, biogas and biomethane developments around the world: for example, the July 2025 edition covers IEA’s first Outlook for Biogases and Biomethane …
A recent UKWIR report investigates which technologies and solutions are available to remove hazardous chemicals from various sources (trade, commercial, run-off and small-scale domestic), either at point of entry to sewer or in the sewer itself. The main groups of chemicals considered were industrial compounds (solvents, surfactants, dyes etc); metals; …
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 – …
