A recent paper looks at the revival rates for microorganisms found in ancient permafrost cores from the Permafrost Research Tunnel near Fairbanks, Alaska. The researchers compared microbial growth rates, marker gene sequences and greenhouse gas (CO2, CH4) emissions across cores held anaerobically at ambient (−4°C) and elevated (4°C, 12°C) temperatures. …
The most recent webinar in our current BES series, from 8 Sept 2025, is now available HERE on EBNet’s YouTube channel. The topic was Interfacial Bioelectrochemistry – Enzymatic NO and CO₂ Reduction and H₂ Evolution. Our speaker was Dr Cristina M Cordas, from the NOVA School of Science and Technology …
A recent perspective paper on wastewater treatment will please many readers while ruffling a few feathers for some others. The paper notes that over the last century wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) have essentially evolved in a piecemeal way to address a number of issues, rather than adopting holistic design approaches …
A recent review paper looks at the application of anaerobic digestion (AD) for treatment of tannery wastes – including waste generated in leather production, and sludges from the treatment of tannery effluents. Leather production has historically been a notoriously polluting process, and despite technology improvements it continues to produce a …
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 …
The latest webinar in our new BES series, from 4 Aug 2025, is now available here on the EBNet Youtube channel. The topic was Microbial electrolysis cells for H2 production and CO2 microbial electrosynthesis. The speakers were Dr Sovik Das, Assistant Professor in the Department of Civil Engineering at the …
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 …
A recorded version of the webinar is available HERE. Date: Mon 8 Sept 12-13:00 UK, online Topic: Interfacial Bioelectrochemistry: Enzymatic NO and CO₂ Reduction and H₂ Evolution Don’t miss the next webinar in the outstanding new series from our Bioelectrochemical Systems WG, led by Dr Sharon Velasquez Orta of Newcastle …
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 …
We are posting a lot on PFAS and related issues at present, reflecting the level of activity in this area. Dr Tao Lyu, who leads EBNet’s PFAS WG, gave a presentation on Treatment wetlands as nature-based solutions in managing emerging micropollutants: PFAS and beyond at the European Wastewater Management Conference …
A recent News item mentioned the potential for process intensification based on aerobic granular sludge (AGS) as a means of increasing the treatment capacity of wastewater facilities – a very hot topic given the poor performance of the UK water sector in this area. The main advantage of process intensification …
A flying start for the new series of webinars organised by the Bioelectrochemical Systems WG. Two excellent talks, by Dr Eduard Borràs giving an overview of the full breadth of LEITAT’s activities in this area; and Dr Daniele Molognoni on some recent and current projects. All very ably chaired by …
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 …
According to a BBC New item, a recent study by the Oxford Rivers Improvement Campaign (ORIC) indicates that more than half of the 351 wastewater treatment works operated by Thames Water could not handle the amount of sewage arriving. Thames Water sewage treatment works ‘cannot handle’ demand – BBC News …
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 …
