Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

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...

Bioremediation

Bioremediation

Bioremediation is the use of prokaryotes, fungi, or plants to remove pollutants from the environment. This process has been used to remove harmful toxins in groundwater as a byproduct of agricultural run-off and also to clean up oil spills.

Biofuels

Biofuels

The microbial conversion of organic matter into biofuels holds potential as a renewable energy source. Among biofuel sources, microalgae are recognized as a highly efficient and adaptable feedstock for biodiesel production, owing to their rapid biomass accumulation, elevated lipid productivity, and capacity to proliferate in diverse aquatic systems, including freshwater, marine, and wastewater habitats. Unlike terrestrial crops, microalgae do not compete for land and can achieve significantly...

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons

Bioremediation is an environmentally sustainable process that employs living organisms—primarily microorganisms—to degrade or neutralize pollutants from contaminated environments. In oil spills and hydrocarbon pollution, bioremediation involves the use of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria to transform toxic compounds into less harmful substances. This approach leverages natural microbial metabolic processes and is considered both cost-effective and ecologically favorable compared to...

Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium

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,...

Upstream Processing

Upstream Processing

Upstream processing represents a critical phase in biomanufacturing, wherein biological systems such as microorganisms, mammalian cells, or insect cells are cultivated to produce therapeutic proteins, vaccines, enzymes, or other biologically derived products. This phase encompasses all steps from the selection and genetic manipulation of the production organism to the cultivation of cells in bioreactors under tightly controlled environmental conditions.Host Selection and Genetic OptimizationThe...

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by

Same author

Generalizable and Transferable Machine Learning Enables Accelerated Metal-Organic Framework Discovery in Gas Separations.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Same author

A stage-based framework for closed-loop recycling of polymeric composite membranes.

Science advances·2026

Same author

The vulnerability of Middle East desalination.

Science (New York, N.Y.)·2026

Same author

A universal metric for classifying gas transport regimes in nanoconfined media.

The Journal of chemical physics·2026

Same author

Explainable machine learning reveals how molecular descriptors govern micropollutant degradation in UV/H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub> oxidation.

Water research·2026

Same author

Inorganic Scaling in Electrodialysis: Mechanistic Insights and Impact on Energy Efficiency and Ion Selectivity.

Environmental science & technology·2026

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

Membrane-based processes for wastewater nutrient recovery: Technology, challenges, and future direction.

Ming Xie¹, Ho Kyong Shon², Stephen R Gray¹

¹Institute for Sustainability and Innovation, College of Engineering and Science, Victoria University, PO Box 14428, Melbourne, Victoria 8001, Australia.

|December 18, 2015

Summary

Wastewater nutrient recovery using forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), and electrodialysis (ED) offers sustainable solutions. Hybridizing these membrane processes with precipitation methods enhances nutrient recovery efficiency in wastewater treatment.

Keywords:

Ammonia recovery Electrodialysis Forward osmosis Membrane distillation Nutrient recovery Phosphate recovery

More Related Videos

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

Published on: December 25, 2015

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Published on: May 2, 2025

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Mar 28, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

Published on: January 22, 2015

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

A Novel Bioreactor for High Density Cultivation of Diverse Microbial Communities

Published on: December 25, 2015

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Mesocosm-Scale Constructed Wetland Design for Wastewater Treatment

Published on: May 2, 2025

Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Chemical Engineering
Water Treatment Technologies

Background:

Sustainable water and agricultural industries rely on effective wastewater nutrient recovery.
Emerging membrane technologies present novel solutions for nutrient management.
Challenges in current wastewater nutrient recovery necessitate innovative approaches.

Purpose of the Study:

To critically review three emerging membrane processes for wastewater nutrient recovery: forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), and electrodialysis (ED).
To identify challenges and advantages of applying these membrane technologies to wastewater nutrient recovery.
To explore the unique mass transfer properties of these processes for enhanced nutrient recovery.

Main Methods:

Critical review of scientific literature on FO, MD, and ED for wastewater nutrient recovery.
Analysis of mass transfer properties specific to each membrane process in wastewater contexts.
Evaluation of hybrid approaches combining membrane processes with nutrient precipitation.

Main Results:

Forward osmosis (FO), membrane distillation (MD), and electrodialysis (ED) show significant potential for advancing wastewater nutrient recovery.
Each technology presents unique advantages and challenges related to efficiency, cost, and scalability.
Hybridizing membrane processes with nutrient precipitation can lead to more comprehensive nutrient recovery.

Conclusions:

Integrating FO, MD, and ED into wastewater treatment facilities can significantly improve nutrient recovery rates.
Future research should focus on optimizing mass transfer and exploring hybrid systems for near-complete nutrient recovery.
These advanced membrane technologies are crucial for developing sustainable water and agricultural systems.