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Purple bacteria and their less known applicationsJungwoo Lee, High-School Student, and Arpita Bose, Associate Professor at Washington University in St. Louis, guide us through purple bacteria and their less-known applications, including wastewater treatment and biofertilization. Purple bacteria, also known as purple photosynthetic bacteria, which belong to the phylum Proteobacteria, can be classified into purple sulfur bacteria (PSB) and purple non-sulfur bacteria (PNSB). In contrast to PSB, PNSB demonstrate the ability to utilize various electron donors and acceptors, which further expands their applications. Their adaptable metabolism, coupled with well-defined genetic manipulation techniques, positions PNSB as ideal models for elucidating the intricacies of metabolic pathways, which hold significant implications for diverse biotechnological applications, including wastewater treatment, and as biofertilizers.
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This content will become publicly available on January 7, 2026
Purple phototrophic bacteria and microbial electrochemical technologies: A new biorefinery concept for wastewater treatment
Purple phototrophic bacteria and microbial electrochemical technologies: A new biorefinery concept for wastewater treatmentThe shift towards sustainable wastewater treatment focuses on nutrient recovery through biorefineries, highlighting the importance of microalgae, cyanobacteria, and, more recently, purple phototrophic bacteria for their metabolic flexibility and adaptability. Activated sludge has been the primary strategy for wastewater treatment worldwide for the last century. The efficiency of this process has improved the quality of life and reduced the impact of wastewater on the ecosystem by preventing eutrophication processes. However, given the energetic demand for wastewater treatment, the strategy is now shifting towards nutrient recovery from wastewater instead of pollutant removal (Verstraete et al., 2009).
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- PAR ID:
- 10641449
- Publisher / Repository:
- Open Access Government
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Open Access Government
- Volume:
- 47
- Issue:
- 1
- ISSN:
- 2516-3817
- Page Range / eLocation ID:
- 398 to 399
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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