Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium01:25

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

Microorganisms play a critical role in the transformation and immobilization of uranium in contaminated environments through four main pathways: bioreduction, biosorption, bioaccumulation, and biomineralization. These mechanisms reduce uranium’s toxicity and prevent its migration through groundwater systems, offering sustainable approaches for in situ bioremediation.Bioreduction of UraniumBioreduction is driven by anaerobic bacteria such as certain strains of Geobacter and Shewanella, which use...
The Phosphorus Cycle01:21

The Phosphorus Cycle

Unlike carbon, water, and nitrogen, phosphorus is not present in the atmosphere as a gas. Instead, most phosphorus in the ecosystem exists as compounds, such as phosphate ions (PO43-), found in soil, water, sediment and rocks. Phosphorus is often a limiting nutrient (i.e., in short supply). Consequently, phosphorus is added to most agricultural fertilizers, which can cause environmental problems related to runoff in aquatic ecosystems.
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms01:30

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...
Bioplastics01:27

Bioplastics

Bioplastics derived from microbial processes present a sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-based plastics. Among these, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs), particularly polyhydroxybutyrates (PHBs), have emerged as prominent candidates due to their biodegradability and biocompatibility. These polymers are synthesized by a variety of bacteria, such as Cupriavidus necator and Pseudomonas putida, which naturally accumulate PHAs as intracellular carbon and energy reserves, especially under...
Factors Affecting Solubility04:01

Factors Affecting Solubility

Compared with pure water, the solubility of an ionic compound is less in aqueous solutions containing a common ion (one also produced by dissolution of the ionic compound). This is an example of a phenomenon known as the common ion effect, which is a consequence of the law of mass action that may be explained using Le Chȃtelier’s principle. Consider the dissolution of silver iodide:
Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics01:28

Microbial Bioremediation of Plastics

Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) is a synthetic polymer widely utilized in the packaging industry, particularly for bottles and containers. Due to its chemical stability and durability, PET accumulates in the environment, contributing significantly to plastic pollution. It comprises repeating units of terephthalic acid and ethylene glycol, resulting in a semi-crystalline structure that is resistant to natural degradation processes.A notable breakthrough in plastic biodegradation came with the...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

Improving the Mechanical Properties of Biodegradable Polyhydroxyalkanoates via PHA-PHA Block-Copolymer Synthesis.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2026
Same author

Melt-glycolysis of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-4-hydroxybutyrate): A modular route to recycling and tuning of biodegradable materials.

International journal of biological macromolecules·2026
Same author

The Diversity of Plastisphere Bacterial and Fungal Communities Differs between Biodegradable Polymer Types in Soil.

Microbial ecology·2026
Same author

Photoautotrophic polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) accumulation in mixed purple bacteria using formate, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide.

Bioresource technology·2026
Same author

Technoeconomic analysis of extreme halophilic manufacture of polyhydroxyalkanoate bioplastics from sugar: Understanding cost sensitivity to feedstock price, fermentation performance and the extraction method.

Bioresource technology·2026
Same author

Rapid Waste Activated Sludge Reduction and Stabilization via a Biofilm-Based Acidic Aerobic Digestion Process.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Related Experiment Video

Updated: May 19, 2026

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method
08:21

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Published on: May 18, 2018

Phosphorus recovery from wastewater through microbial processes.

Zhiguo Yuan1, Steven Pratt, Damien J Batstone

  • 1Advanced Water Management Centre, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, Brisbane, Australia. z.yuan@awmc.uq.edu.au

Current Opinion in Biotechnology
|August 28, 2012
PubMed
Summary

Recovering phosphorus from waste is crucial for sustainability. Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) concentrates phosphorus in biomass, but further development is needed for efficient release and recovery.

More Related Videos

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
06:42

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

Published on: July 22, 2019

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: May 19, 2026

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method
08:21

Optimized Procedure for Determining the Adsorption of Phosphonates onto Granular Ferric Hydroxide using a Miniaturized Phosphorus Determination Method

Published on: May 18, 2018

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment
06:42

Measuring Phosphorus Release in Laboratory Microcosms for Water Quality Assessment

Published on: July 22, 2019

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste
08:14

Scalable Step-by-Step Approach of Sustainable Bioplastic Production from Food Waste

Published on: July 18, 2025

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Biotechnology
  • Resource Recovery

Background:

  • Waste streams present a significant, yet largely untapped, source for phosphorus recovery.
  • Global phosphate rock demand could be substantially met by domestic waste recovery.
  • Concentrating phosphorus from dilute streams (<10 mg P/L) is essential for feasible recovery and reuse.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) as a key technology for concentrating phosphorus from waste streams.
  • To discuss the subsequent steps of phosphorus release and recovery from EBPR biomass.
  • To identify areas requiring further technological development in phosphorus recovery.

Main Methods:

  • Review of enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes.
  • Discussion of polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) for phosphorus uptake.
  • Analysis of phosphorus release (thermochemical and biochemical) and recovery (struvite precipitation) methods.

Main Results:

  • EBPR effectively concentrates phosphorus into biomass (biosolids).
  • Biosolids can be directly applied to land or processed for mineral recovery.
  • Phosphorus release and recovery technologies require further advancement.

Conclusions:

  • Enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) is a mature technology for phosphorus concentration.
  • Additional development is necessary for efficient phosphorus release and recovery from EBPR biomass.
  • Optimizing release and recovery methods is key to maximizing phosphorus circularity from waste streams.