Screening of microalgae strains for efficient biotransformation of small molecular organic acids from dark fermentation biohydrogen production wastewater.

Dark fermentation biohydrogen production is a rapidly advancing and well-established field. However, the accumulation of volatile organic acid (VFAs) byproducts hinder its practical applications. Microalgae have demonstrated the ability to efficiently utilize VFAs while also treating waste gases and other nutrient elements. Integrating microalgae cultivation with dark fermentation is a promising approach. However, low VFAs tolerance and slow VFAs consumption restrict their application. To find suitable wastewater treatment microalgae, this work screened eight microalgae strains from five family. The results demonstrated that Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exhibited significant advantages in VFAs utilization, achieving a maximum removal of 100% for acetate and 52.5% for butyrate. Among the tested microalgae strains, CW15 outperformed in terms of photobioreactor adaptability, VFAs utilization, biomass productivity, and nutrient removal, making it the most promising microalgae for practical applications. This research demonstrates the feasibility of integrating microalgae cultivation with dark fermentation and providing a viable technical solution for integrated-biorefining.

[Practical exploration of teaching microbiology in English to promote research and study].

Microbes are involved in every aspect of human life. Microbiology is a mandatory subject at the undergraduate level covering majors including life sciences, pharmacy, medicine, agriculture, forestry and food. Along with internationalization and development of the first-class disciplines, teaching microbiology courses in English is highly valued. Here we discuss how to conduct curriculum reform of microbiology teaching in English, and what are the advantages and challenges when teaching in English. The teaching system can be advanced by enhancing interdisciplinary communication so as to promote study and research for students and teachers. We take this practical exploration as an example to communicate with relevant teachers.