Nutrient recovery options from human urine: A choice for large scale application

Introduction: Human somatic cells can be reprogrammed into primitive stem cells, termed induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These iPSCs can be extensively expanded in vitro and differentiated into multiple functional cell types, enabling faithful preservation of individual’s genotype and large scale production of disease targeted cellular components. These unique cellular reagents thus hold tremendous potential in disease mechanism study, drugs screening and cell replacement therapy. Due to the genetic mutation of the protein dystrophin, many DMD patients develop fatal cardiomyopathy with no effective treatment. The underlying pathogenesis has not been fully elucidated. Hypothesis: We tested the hypothesis that iPSCs could be generated from DMD patients’ urine samples and differentiated into cardiomyocytes, recapitulating the dystrophic phenotype. Methods: iPSCs generation was achieved by introducing a lentiviral vector expressing Oct4, Sox2, c-Myc and Klf4 into cells derived from patient’s (n=1) and healthy volunteers’ (n=3) urine. Cardiomyocytes were derived by sequentially treating iPSCs with GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021 and Wnt inhibitor IWP4. Differentiated cardiomyocytes were subjected to calcium imaging, electrophysiology recording, Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) analysis, and immunostaining. Results: iPSCs were efficiently generated from human urine samples and further forced to differentiate into contracting cardiomyocytes. PCR analysis and immunostaining confirmed the expression of a panel of cardiac markers. Both normal and patient iPSC derived cardiomyocytes exhibited spontaneous and field stimulated calcium transients (up to 2Hz), as well as action potentials with ventricular-like and nodal-like characteristics. Anti-dystrophin antibodies stained normal iPSC-derived cardiomyocyte membranes but did not react against DMD iPSC-derived cardiomyocytes. Conclusions: Cardiomyocytes can be efficiently generated from human urine, through the cellular reprogramming technology. DMD cardiomyocytes retained the patient’s genetic information and manifested a dystrophin-null phenotype. Functional assessments are underway to determine differences that may exist between genotypes.

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Run4Life project: A step forward in NPK recovery from source-separated wastewaters.

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21600 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Gemma Torres Sallan ◽

Eduard Borras ◽

Martí Aliaguilla ◽

Daniele Molognoni ◽

Sonia Sanchis ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ammonium Nitrate ◽

Large Scale ◽

Business Models ◽

Nutrient Recycling ◽

Sewage Treatment ◽

Domestic Wastewater ◽

Organic Fertilizers ◽

Nutrient Recovery ◽

Npk Fertilizers ◽

Recovery Rates

Domestic wastewater (WW) is an important carrier of nutrients usually wasted away by current centralised sewage treatment plants. The Run4Life project proposes an alternative strategy for increasing circularity of WW treatment systems and improving nutrient recovery rates and material qualities. This is based on a decentralised treatment of segregated black water (BW), kitchen waste and grey water combining existing and innovative technologies.Run4Life is currently improving innovative nutrient recovery technologies, these being: (i) an ultra-low flush vacuum toilet, which uses around 0.5L/flush, thus less water than conventional vacuum toilets, allowing concentration of BW compared to conventional toilets and vacuum toilets. (ii) Bio-electrochemical systems for nitrogen recovery, which recovers up to 12.8 g/m2*d of Nitrogen present in blackwater as liquid fertilizer (ammonium nitrate) iii) (Hyper-)thermophilic anaerobic digestion, which aims to recover the phosphorous and nitrogen in the hygienised effluent in a one-step treatment and ready for use as fertilisers. &#160;Nutrient recycling technologies from domestic WW are demonstrated at large scale in four demonstration sites where decentralised WW treatment systems are implemented: Ghent (Belgium, 430 houses), Helsingborg (Sweden, 320 apartments), Sneek (The Netherlands, 32 houses), and Vigo (Spain, 1 office building). This will result in solid and liquid NPK fertilizers being recovered in the form of struvite, ammonium nitrate, calcium phosphate, organic fertilizers and reclaimed water.The environmental, economic and societal impact of the obtained fertilizers is being tested by means of ecotoxicology tests, pot experiments, field trials, and by a selection of key performance indicators based on European, national and regional legislation present in the four different countries. Life cycle assessments are being performed for each technology and demonstration site, and active measures such as knowledge brokerage activities are being developed as an engagement strategy to advocate the institutional, legal and social acceptance of the Run4Life nutrient recovery technologies and fertilizers produced.&#160; In addition, new business models which can benefit from the Run4Life project are currently being assessed.It is expected that, by the end of the project, more than 90% of the water will be reused, and that nutrient recovery rates will achieve 100%.

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Ecological Sanitation and nutrient recovery from human urine: How far have we come? A review

Sustainable Environment Research ◽

10.1016/j.serj.2016.12.001 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 27 (3) ◽

pp. 107-116 ◽

Cited By ~ 49

Author(s):

Prithvi Simha ◽

Mahesh Ganesapillai

Keyword(s):

Human Urine ◽

Nutrient Recovery ◽

Ecological Sanitation

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Rapid large-scale isolation of biologically active molecules using reversed-phase “flash” chromatography: Initial purification of endogenous Na+, K+-ATPase inhibitors from human urine

Journal of Chromatography B Biomedical Sciences and Applications ◽

10.1016/0378-4347(85)80114-6 ◽

1985 ◽

Vol 338 ◽

pp. 417-421 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

I.W. Wainer ◽

M. Crabos ◽

J.F. Cloix

Keyword(s):

Human Urine ◽

Large Scale ◽

Reversed Phase ◽

Biologically Active ◽

Flash Chromatography ◽

Atpase Inhibitors

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Bioregenerative Nutrient Recovery from Human Urine

Biorefinery of Inorganics ◽

10.1002/9781118921487.ch4-5 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 161-176

Author(s):

Jayanta Kumar Biswas ◽

Sukanta Rana ◽

Erik Meers

Keyword(s):

Human Urine ◽

Nutrient Recovery

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Nutrient Recovery from Agricultural Wastewater by Integrated Electrokinetic Processes

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-21013 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Shu-Yuan Pan ◽

Chao-Yu Wei ◽

Anwar Jamaal Wade ◽

Po-Chih Tseng

Keyword(s):

Energy Efficient ◽

Large Scale ◽

Value Added ◽

Nutrient Recovery ◽

Agricultural Wastewater ◽

Nutrient Reuse ◽

Process Chemistry ◽

Electrokinetic Separations ◽

Phosphorus And Potassium ◽

Nitrogen Phosphorus

Agricultural wastewater including anaerobic digestate is annually generated in a huge quantity in Taiwan. The management of agricultural wastewater should be emphasized on the recovery and production of value-added resources, such as macronutrients (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), for realizing the circular bioeconomy. In this paper, we will illustrate the development of energy-efficient electrokinetic processes for nutrient recovery from agricultural wastewater. First, we evaluate the performance of electrokinetic separations processes for recovery of macronutrients. We also discuss major challenges in managing nutrient reuse by the developed electrokinetic methods. Then, we elucidate the process chemistry and reaction kinetics by the processes. Lastly, we consider the interconnectivity among water, energy and the produced macronutrients in the context of large-scale deployment.

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