Next-Generation Rotating Biological Contactors for Wastewater Management: Bioelectrochemical Integration, Biofilm Monitoring, and Process Intensification.
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| Title: | Next-Generation Rotating Biological Contactors for Wastewater Management: Bioelectrochemical Integration, Biofilm Monitoring, and Process Intensification. |
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| Authors: | Chauhan, Suyash Singh1 (AUTHOR), Nayak, Soubhagya2 (AUTHOR), Gupta, Damini2 (AUTHOR), Mounika, Shanigaram2 (AUTHOR), Patel, Ajey1 (AUTHOR), Sevda, Surajbhan2 (AUTHOR) sevdasuraj@gmail.com |
| Source: | Environmental Engineering Science. Sep2026, Vol. 43 Issue 9, p347-377. 31p. |
| Subjects: | Wastewater treatment, Bioelectrochemistry, Biofilms, Intelligent sensors, Process optimization, Resource recovery facilities, Microbial fuel cells |
| Abstract: | Rotating biological contactors (RBCs) represent one of the most energy-efficient and robust attached-growth technologies for wastewater treatment. Over the past two decades, significant advancements have been achieved in RBC reactor design, disc materials, operational optimization, biofilm monitoring, and hybrid integrations with emerging treatment technologies. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of RBC systems, ranging from conventional disc-based aerobic reactors to advanced configurations integrated with bioelectrochemical systems such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells, and rotating disc bioelectrochemical reactors. The review also discusses emerging RBC–microalgae systems for nutrient recovery, biomass valorization, and circular bioeconomy applications. Key operational and performance parameters, including chemical oxygen demand/biochemical oxygen demand removal, nitrification–denitrification, biofilm dynamics, energy consumption, hydrodynamic effects, and long-term process stability, are critically evaluated. Particular emphasis is placed on extracellular electron transfer mechanisms, electrode configurations, rotational hydrodynamics, and energy recovery in RBC–MFC hybrid systems. Recent developments in smart monitoring approaches, including optical coherence tomography, microscopy-based biofilm analysis, sensor-assisted monitoring, and intelligent process control strategies, are also reviewed for their potential to improve operational reliability and predictive maintenance. Furthermore, major operational challenges, such as biofilm sloughing, seasonal variability, mechanical stress, odor generation, corrosion, and scale-up limitations, are critically discussed. Future perspectives highlight the potential of advanced disc materials, conductive biofilm supports, smart monitoring systems, digital process optimization, and hybrid resource-recovery platforms for next-generation sustainable wastewater treatment. Overall, this review provides researchers and engineers with an updated understanding of modern RBC technologies and their growing role in energy-efficient, decentralized, and environmentally sustainable wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
| Copyright of Environmental Engineering Science is the property of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) | |
| Database: | Engineering Source |
| FullText | Text: Availability: 0 |
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| Header | DbId: egs DbLabel: Engineering Source An: 195176311 AccessLevel: 6 PubType: Academic Journal PubTypeId: academicJournal PreciseRelevancyScore: 0 |
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| Items | – Name: Title Label: Title Group: Ti Data: Next-Generation Rotating Biological Contactors for Wastewater Management: Bioelectrochemical Integration, Biofilm Monitoring, and Process Intensification. – Name: Author Label: Authors Group: Au Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Chauhan%2C+Suyash+Singh%22">Chauhan, Suyash Singh</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Nayak%2C+Soubhagya%22">Nayak, Soubhagya</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gupta%2C+Damini%22">Gupta, Damini</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mounika%2C+Shanigaram%22">Mounika, Shanigaram</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Patel%2C+Ajey%22">Patel, Ajey</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Sevda%2C+Surajbhan%22">Sevda, Surajbhan</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sevdasuraj@gmail.com</i> – Name: TitleSource Label: Source Group: Src Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Environmental+Engineering+Science%22">Environmental Engineering Science</searchLink>. Sep2026, Vol. 43 Issue 9, p347-377. 31p. – Name: Subject Label: Subjects Group: Su Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wastewater+treatment%22">Wastewater treatment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Bioelectrochemistry%22">Bioelectrochemistry</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biofilms%22">Biofilms</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intelligent+sensors%22">Intelligent sensors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Process+optimization%22">Process optimization</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Resource+recovery+facilities%22">Resource recovery facilities</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Microbial+fuel+cells%22">Microbial fuel cells</searchLink> – Name: Abstract Label: Abstract Group: Ab Data: Rotating biological contactors (RBCs) represent one of the most energy-efficient and robust attached-growth technologies for wastewater treatment. Over the past two decades, significant advancements have been achieved in RBC reactor design, disc materials, operational optimization, biofilm monitoring, and hybrid integrations with emerging treatment technologies. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the evolution of RBC systems, ranging from conventional disc-based aerobic reactors to advanced configurations integrated with bioelectrochemical systems such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells, and rotating disc bioelectrochemical reactors. The review also discusses emerging RBC–microalgae systems for nutrient recovery, biomass valorization, and circular bioeconomy applications. Key operational and performance parameters, including chemical oxygen demand/biochemical oxygen demand removal, nitrification–denitrification, biofilm dynamics, energy consumption, hydrodynamic effects, and long-term process stability, are critically evaluated. Particular emphasis is placed on extracellular electron transfer mechanisms, electrode configurations, rotational hydrodynamics, and energy recovery in RBC–MFC hybrid systems. Recent developments in smart monitoring approaches, including optical coherence tomography, microscopy-based biofilm analysis, sensor-assisted monitoring, and intelligent process control strategies, are also reviewed for their potential to improve operational reliability and predictive maintenance. Furthermore, major operational challenges, such as biofilm sloughing, seasonal variability, mechanical stress, odor generation, corrosion, and scale-up limitations, are critically discussed. Future perspectives highlight the potential of advanced disc materials, conductive biofilm supports, smart monitoring systems, digital process optimization, and hybrid resource-recovery platforms for next-generation sustainable wastewater treatment. Overall, this review provides researchers and engineers with an updated understanding of modern RBC technologies and their growing role in energy-efficient, decentralized, and environmentally sustainable wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] – Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright Label: Group: Ab Data: <i>Copyright of Environmental Engineering Science is the property of Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.) |
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| RecordInfo | BibRecord: BibEntity: Identifiers: – Type: doi Value: 10.1177/15579018261465719 Languages: – Code: eng Text: English PhysicalDescription: Pagination: PageCount: 31 StartPage: 347 Subjects: – SubjectFull: Wastewater treatment Type: general – SubjectFull: Bioelectrochemistry Type: general – SubjectFull: Biofilms Type: general – SubjectFull: Intelligent sensors Type: general – SubjectFull: Process optimization Type: general – SubjectFull: Resource recovery facilities Type: general – SubjectFull: Microbial fuel cells Type: general Titles: – TitleFull: Next-Generation Rotating Biological Contactors for Wastewater Management: Bioelectrochemical Integration, Biofilm Monitoring, and Process Intensification. Type: main BibRelationships: HasContributorRelationships: – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Chauhan, Suyash Singh – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Nayak, Soubhagya – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Gupta, Damini – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Mounika, Shanigaram – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Patel, Ajey – PersonEntity: Name: NameFull: Sevda, Surajbhan IsPartOfRelationships: – BibEntity: Dates: – D: 01 M: 09 Text: Sep2026 Type: published Y: 2026 Identifiers: – Type: issn-print Value: 10928758 Numbering: – Type: volume Value: 43 – Type: issue Value: 9 Titles: – TitleFull: Environmental Engineering Science Type: main |
| ResultId | 1 |
