Closing the nitrogen loop in groundwater with biohybrid technologies

Linjie Zhou; Biao Li; Jianhua Guo; Shelley D. Minteer; Yifeng Zhang

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.013

Closing the nitrogen loop in groundwater with biohybrid technologies

Linjie Zhou
, Biao Li
, Jianhua Guo
, Shelley D. Minteer
, Yifeng Zhang^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Queensland
Missouri University of Science and Technology

Research output: Contribution to journal › Comment/debate › Research › peer-review

Abstract

Nitrate in groundwater should be treated as a nitrogen source rather than a contaminant. Biohybrid technologies coupling microbial selectivity with renewable electro(photo)chemical energy offer opportunities to convert nitrate to value-added ammonium, although challenges remain in scalability, microbial stability, material–microbe integration, process engineering, regulatory compliance, and economic feasibility.

Original language	English
Journal	Trends in Biotechnology
Number of pages	3
ISSN	0167-7799
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.013
Publication status	Accepted/In press - 2026

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production

Keywords

Nitrogen circular economy
Biohybrid electrochemical systems
Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA)

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10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.013

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Cite this

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title = "Closing the nitrogen loop in groundwater with biohybrid technologies",

abstract = "Nitrate in groundwater should be treated as a nitrogen source rather than a contaminant. Biohybrid technologies coupling microbial selectivity with renewable electro(photo)chemical energy offer opportunities to convert nitrate to value-added ammonium, although challenges remain in scalability, microbial stability, material{\textendash}microbe integration, process engineering, regulatory compliance, and economic feasibility.",

keywords = "Nitrogen circular economy, Biohybrid electrochemical systems, Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA)",

author = "Linjie Zhou and Biao Li and Jianhua Guo and Minteer, \{Shelley D.\} and Yifeng Zhang",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2026 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2026",

doi = "10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.013",

language = "English",

journal = "Trends in Biotechnology",

issn = "0167-7799",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Closing the nitrogen loop in groundwater with biohybrid technologies

AU - Zhou, Linjie

AU - Li, Biao

AU - Guo, Jianhua

AU - Minteer, Shelley D.

AU - Zhang, Yifeng

PY - 2026

Y1 - 2026

N2 - Nitrate in groundwater should be treated as a nitrogen source rather than a contaminant. Biohybrid technologies coupling microbial selectivity with renewable electro(photo)chemical energy offer opportunities to convert nitrate to value-added ammonium, although challenges remain in scalability, microbial stability, material–microbe integration, process engineering, regulatory compliance, and economic feasibility.

AB - Nitrate in groundwater should be treated as a nitrogen source rather than a contaminant. Biohybrid technologies coupling microbial selectivity with renewable electro(photo)chemical energy offer opportunities to convert nitrate to value-added ammonium, although challenges remain in scalability, microbial stability, material–microbe integration, process engineering, regulatory compliance, and economic feasibility.

KW - Nitrogen circular economy

KW - Biohybrid electrochemical systems

KW - Dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA)

U2 - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.013

DO - 10.1016/j.tibtech.2026.06.013

M3 - Comment/debate

C2 - 42392925

AN - SCOPUS:105043703739

SN - 0167-7799

JO - Trends in Biotechnology

JF - Trends in Biotechnology

ER -

Closing the nitrogen loop in groundwater with biohybrid technologies

Abstract

UN SDGs

Keywords

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