Bin Liang
Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Featured researches published by Bin Liang.
Environmental Science & Technology | 2011
Aijie Wang; Hao-Yi Cheng; Bin Liang; Nan Qi Ren; Dan Cui; Na Lin; Byung Hong Kim; Korneel Rabaey
Nitrobenzene (NB) is a toxic compound that is often found as a pollutant in the environment. The present removal strategies suffer from high cost or slow conversion rate. Here, we investigated the conversion of NB to aniline (AN), a less toxic endproduct that can easily be mineralized, using a fed-batch bioelectrochemical system with microbially catalyzed cathode. When a voltage of 0.5 V was applied in the presence of glucose, 88.2 ± 0.60% of the supplied NB (0.5 mM) was transformed to AN within 24 h, which was 10.25 and 2.90 times higher than an abiotic cathode and open circuit controlled experiment, respectively. AN was the only product detected during bioelectrochemical reduction of NB (maximum efficiency 98.70 ± 0.87%), whereas in abiotic conditions nitrosobenzene was observed as intermediate of NB reduction to AN (decreased efficiency to 73.75 ± 3.2%). When glucose was replaced by NaHCO(3), the rate of NB degradation decreased about 10%, selective transformation of NB to AN was still achieved (98.93 ± 0.77%). Upon autoclaving the cathode electrode, nitrosobenzene was formed as an intermediate, leading to a decreased AN formation efficiency of 71.6%. Cyclic voltammetry highlighted higher peak currents as well as decreased overpotentials for NB reduction at the biocathode. 16S rRNA based analysis of the biofilm on the cathode indicated that the cathode was dominated by an Enterococcus species closely related to Enterococcus aquimarinus.
Environmental Science & Technology | 2013
Bin Liang; Hao-Yi Cheng; Deyong Kong; Shu-Hong Gao; Fei Sun; Dan Cui; Fanying Kong; Aijuan Zhou; Wenzong Liu; Nanqi Ren; Wei-Min Wu; Aijie Wang; Duu-Jong Lee
Chlorinated nitroaromatic antibiotic chloramphenicol (CAP) is a priority pollutant in wastewaters. A fed-batch bioelectrochemical system (BES) with biocathode with applied voltage of 0.5 V (served as extracellular electron donor) and glucose as intracellular electron donor was applied to reduce CAP to amine product (AMCl2). The biocathode BES converted 87.1 ± 4.2% of 32 mg/L CAP in 4 h, and the removal efficiency reached 96.0 ± 0.9% within 24 h. Conversely, the removal efficiency of CAP in BES with an abiotic cathode was only 73.0 ± 3.2% after 24 h. When the biocathode was disconnected (no electrochemical reaction but in the presence of microbial activities), the CAP removal rate was dropped to 62.0% of that with biocathode BES. Acetylation of one hydroxyl of CAP was noted exclusive in the biocatalyzed process, while toxic intermediates, hydroxylamino (HOAM), and nitroso (NO), from CAP reduction were observed only in the abiotic cathode BES. Electrochemical hydrodechlorination and dehalogenase were responsible for dechlorination of AMCl2 to AMCl in abiotic and microbial cathode BES, respectively. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) highlighted higher peak currents and lower overpotentials for CAP reduction at the biocathode compared with abiotic cathode. With the biocathode BES, antibacterial activity of CAP was completely removed and nitro group reduction combined with dechlorination reaction enhanced detoxication efficiency of CAP. The CAP cathodic transformation pathway was proposed based on intermediates analysis. Bacterial community analysis indicated that the dominate bacteria on the biocathode were belonging to α, β, and γ-Proteobacteria. The biocathode BES could serve as a potential treatment process for CAP-containing wastewater.
Water Research | 2014
Bin Liang; Hao-Yi Cheng; Joy D. Van Nostrand; Jincai Ma; Hao Yu; Deyong Kong; Wenzong Liu; Nanqi Ren; Liyou Wu; Aijie Wang; Duu-Jong Lee; Jizhong Zhou
The stress of poised cathode potential condition and carbon source switchover for functional biocathode microbial community influences is poorly understood. Using high-throughput functional gene array (GeoChip v4.2) and Illumina 16S rRNA gene MiSeq sequencing, we investigated the phylogenetic and functional microbial community of the initial inoculum and biocathode for bioelectrochemical reduction of nitrobenzene to less toxic aniline in response to carbon source switchover (from organic glucose to inorganic bicarbonate). Selective transformation of nitrobenzene to aniline maintained in the bicarbonate fed biocathode although nitrobenzene reduction rate and aniline formation rate were significantly decreased compared to those of the glucose-fed biocathode. When the electrical circuit of the glucose-fed biocathode was disconnected, both rates of nitrobenzene reduction and of aniline formation were markedly decreased, confirming the essential role of an applied electric field for the enhancement of nitrobenzene reduction. The stress of poised cathode potential condition led to clear succession of microbial communities from the initial inoculum to biocathode and the carbon source switchover obviously changed the microbial community structure of biocathode. Most of the dominant genera were capable of reducing nitroaromatics to the corresponding aromatic amines regardless of the performance mode. Heterotrophic Enterococcus was dominant in the glucose-fed biocathode while autotrophic Paracoccus and Variovorax were dominant in the bicarbonate-fed biocathode. Relatively higher intensity of diverse multi-heme cytochrome c (putatively involved in electrons transfer) and carbon fixation genes was observed in the biocarbonate-fed biocathode, likely met the requirement of the energy conservation and maintained the nitrobenzene selective reduction capability after carbon source switchover. Extracellular pilin, which are important for biofilm formation and potential conductivity, had a higher gene abundance in the glucose-fed biocathode might explain the enhancement of electro-catalysis activity for nitrobenzene reduction with glucose supply. Dominant nitroaromatics-reducing or electrochemically active bacteria and diverse functional genes related to electrons transfer and nitroaromatics reduction were associated with nitrobenzene reduction efficiency of biocathode communities in response to carbon source switchover.
Journal of Hazardous Materials | 2012
Dan Cui; Yu-Qi Guo; Hao-Yi Cheng; Bin Liang; Fanying Kong; Hyung Sool Lee; Aijie Wang
Azo dyes that consist of a large quantity of dye wastewater are toxic and persistent to biodegradation, while they should be removed before being discharged to water body. In this study, Alizarin Yellow R (AYR) as a model azo dye was decolorized in a combined bio-system of membrane-free, continuous up-flow bio-catalyzed electrolysis reactor (UBER) and subsequent aerobic bio-contact oxidation reactor (ABOR). With the supply of external power source 0.5 V in the UBER, AYR decolorization efficiency increased up to 94.8±1.5%. Products formation efficiencies of p-phenylenediamine (PPD) and 5-aminosalicylic acid (5-ASA) were above 90% and 60%, respectively. Electron recovery efficiency based on AYR removal in cathode zone was nearly 100% at HRTs longer than 6 h. Relatively high concentration of AYR accumulated at higher AYR loading rates (>780 gm(-3) d(-1)) likely inhibited acetate oxidation of anode-respiring bacteria on the anode, which decreased current density in the UBER; optimal AYR loading rate for the UBER was 680 gm(-3) d(-1) (HRT 2.5 h). The subsequent ABOR further improved effluent quality. Overall the Chroma decreased from 320 times to 80 times in the combined bio-system to meet the textile wastewater discharge standard II in China.
Bioresource Technology | 2014
Dan Cui; Yu-Qi Guo; Hyung Sool Lee; Wei-Min Wu; Bin Liang; Aijie Wang; Hao-Yi Cheng
A four-compartment anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) incorporated with membrane-less biocatalyzed electrolysis system (BES) was tested for the treatment of azo dye (alizarin yellow R, AYR) wastewater (AYR, 200 mg L(-1); glucose, 1000 mg L(-1)). The ABR-BES was operated without and with external power supply to examine AYR reduction process and reductive intermediates with different external voltages (0.3, 0.5 and 0.7 V) and hydraulic retention times (HRT: 8, 6 and 4h). The decolorization efficiency in the ABR-BES (8h HRT, 0.5 V) was higher than that in ABR-BES without electrolysis, i.e. 95.1 ± 1.5% versus 86.9 ± 6.3%. Incorporation of BES with ABR accelerated the consumption of VFAs (mainly acetate) and attenuated biogas (methane) production. Higher power supply (0.7 V) enhanced AYR decolorization efficiency (96.4 ± 1.8%), VFAs removal, and current density (24.1 Am(-3) TCV). Shorter HRT increased volumetric AYR decolorization rates, but decreased AYR decolorization efficiency.
Water Research | 2015
Deyong Kong; Bin Liang; Hui Yun; Hao-Yi Cheng; Jincai Ma; Min-Hua Cui; Aijie Wang; Nanqi Ren
Antibiotics in wastewaters must be degraded to eliminate their antibacterial activity before discharging into the environment. A cathode can provide continuous electrons for the degradation of refractory pollutants, however the cathodic degradation feasibility, efficiency and pathway for different kinds of antibiotics is poorly understood. Here, we investigated the degradation of four antibiotics, namely nitrofurazone (NFZ), metronidazole (MNZ), chloramphenicol (CAP), and florfenicol (FLO) by a poised cathode in a dual chamber electrochemical reactor. The cyclic voltammetry preliminarily proved the feasibility of the cathodic degradation of these antibiotics. The cathodic reducibility of these antibiotics followed the order of NFZxa0>xa0MNZxa0>xa0CAPxa0>xa0FLO. A decreased phosphate buffered solution (PBS) concentration as low as 2xa0mM or utilization of NaCl buffer solution as catholyte had significant influence on antibiotics degradation rate and efficiency for CAP and FLO but not for NFZ and MNZ. PBS could be replaced by Na2CO3-NaHCO3 buffer solution as catholyte for the degradation of these antibiotics. Reductive dechlorination of CAP proceeded only after the reduction of the nitro group to aromatic amine. The composition of the degradation products depended on the cathode potential except for MNZ. The cathodic degradation process could eliminate the antibacterial activity of these antibiotics. The current study suggests that the electrochemical reduction could serve as a potential pretreatment or advanced treatment unit for the treatment of antibiotics containing wastewaters.
Water Research | 2015
Hao-Yi Cheng; Bin Liang; Yang Mu; Min-Hua Cui; Kun Li; Wei-Min Wu; Aijie Wang
The challenge of energy generation from biodegradation of recalcitrant organics in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is mainly attributed to their persistence to degradation under anaerobic condition in anode chamber of MFCs. In this work, we demonstrated that electricity generation from aniline, a typical recalcitrant organic matter under anaerobic condition was remarkably facilitated by employing oxygen into bioanode of MFCs. By exposing bioanode to air, electrons of 47.2xa0±xa06.9xa0C were recovered with aniline removal efficiency of 91.2xa0±xa02.2% in 144xa0h. Limited oxygen supply (the anodic headspace was initially filled with air and then closed) resulted in the decrease of electrons recovery and aniline removal efficiency by 52.5xa0±xa09.4% and 74.2xa0±xa02.1%, respectively, and further decline by respective 64.3xa0±xa04.5% and 82.7xa0±xa01.0% occurred under anaerobic condition. Community analysis showed that anode biofilm was predominated by several aerobic aniline degrading bacteria (AADB) and anode-respiration bacteria (ARB), which likely cooperated with each other and finally featured the energy recovery from aniline. Cyclic voltammetry indicated that anodic bacteria transferred electrons to anode mainly through electron shuttle. This study provided a new sight to acquaint us with the positive role of oxygen in biodegradation of recalcitrant organics on anode as well as electricity generation.
Biotechnology for Biofuels | 2016
Wenzong Liu; Zhangwei He; Chunxue Yang; Aijuan Zhou; Zechong Guo; Bin Liang; Cristiano Varrone; Aijie Wang
BackgroundBioelectrochemical systems have been considered a promising novel technology that shows an enhanced energy recovery, as well as generation of value-added products. A number of recent studies suggested that an enhancement of carbon conversion and biogas production can be achieved in an integrated system of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) for waste activated sludge (WAS). Microbial communities in integrated system would build a thorough energetic and metabolic interaction network regarding fermentation communities and electrode respiring communities. The characterization of integrated community structure and community shifts is not well understood, however, it starts to attract interest of scientists and engineers.ResultsIn the present work, energy recovery and WAS conversion are comprehensively affected by typical pretreated biosolid characteristics. We investigated the interaction of fermentation communities and electrode respiring communities in an integrated system of WAS fermentation and MEC for hydrogen recovery. A high energy recovery was achieved in the MECs feeding WAS fermentation liquid through alkaline pretreatment. Some anaerobes belonging to Firmicutes (Acetoanaerobium, Acetobacterium, and Fusibacter) showed synergistic relationship with exoelectrogens in the degradation of complex organic matter or recycling of MEC products (H2). High protein and polysaccharide but low fatty acid content led to the dominance of Proteiniclasticum and Parabacteroides, which showed a delayed contribution to the extracellular electron transport leading to a slow cascade utilization of WAS.ConclusionsEfficient pretreatment could supply more short-chain fatty acids and higher conductivities in the fermentative liquid, which facilitated mass transfer in anodic biofilm. The overall performance of WAS cascade utilization was substantially related to the microbial community structures, which in turn depended on the initial pretreatment to enhance WAS fermentation. It is worth noting that species in AD and MEC communities are able to build complex networks of interaction, which have not been sufficiently studied so far. It is therefore important to understand how choosing operational parameters can influence reactor performances. The current study highlights the interaction of fermentative bacteria and exoelectrogens in the integrated system.
Bioresource Technology | 2013
Fei Sun; Hao Liu; Bin Liang; Rentao Song; Qun Yan; Aijie Wang
Reductive degradation of choramphenicol (CAP) using Bioelectrochemical system (BES) with both abiotic cathode and biocathode was investigated. It was found that the CAP reduction efficiency during the first 24 h reached 86.3% of the biocathode group, while which was only 62.9% in the case of abiotic cathode. Except for the cathode potential, other indicators of the cathode performance as the cathode current, the current response of the cyclic voltammetry, the ohm resistance, and the polarization resistance of the biocathode group were all better than those of the abiotic group. Moreover, specific CAP reductive rate of the biocathode with sludge fermentation liquid (0.199 h(-1)) as carbon source was close to that of the glucose (0.215 h(-1)), but was about 3.2 times of the abiotic cathode group (0.062 h(-1)). It suggested that the introduction of biocathode would better the cathode performance, and then further increase the CAP reduction.
Journal of Hazardous Materials | 2017
Hui Yun; Bin Liang; Deyong Kong; Hao-Yi Cheng; Zhiling Li; Ya-Bing Gu; Huaqun Yin; Aijie Wang
The enrichment of specific pollutant-reducing consortium is usually required prior to the startup of biocathode bioelectrochemical system (BES) and the whole process is time consuming. To rapidly establish a non-specific functional biocathode, direct polar inversion from bioanode to biocathode is proposed in this study. Based on the diverse reductases and electron transfer related proteins of anode-respiring bacteria (ARB), the acclimated electrochemically active biofilm (EAB) may catalyze reduction of different aromatic pollutants. Within approximately 12 d, the acclimated bioanodes were directly employed as biocathodes for nitroaromatic nitrobenzene (NB) and azo dye acid orange 7 (AO7) reduction. Our results indicated that the established biocathode significantly accelerated the reduction of NB to aniline (AN) and AO7 to discolored products compared with the abiotic cathode and open circuit controls. Several microbes possessing capabilities of nitroaromatic/azo dye reduction and bidirectional electron transfer were maintained or enriched in the biocathode communities. Cyclic voltammetry highlighted the decreased over-potentials and enhanced electron transfer of biocathode as well as demonstrated the ARB Geobacter containing cytochrome c involved in the backward electron transfer from electrode to NB. This study offers new insights into the rapid establishment and modularization of functional biocathodes for the potential treatment of complicated electron acceptors-coexisting wastewaters.