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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
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Recovery Techniques Enabling Circular Chemistry from Wastewater
Vahideh Elhami1, Evelyn C Antunes1,2, Hardy Temmink2,3
1Sustainable Process Technology Group, Process and Catalysis Cluster, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Twente, Drienerlolaan 5, 7522 NB Enschede, The Netherlands.
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland)
|February 25, 2022
Summary
Effective recovery of dilute chemicals from waste is crucial for sustainable production. This review explores methods for recovering carboxylic acids and polymers from wastewater, enabling valuable chemical production.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and biochemical engineering
- Environmental science and engineering
- Chemical process engineering
Background:
- Growing environmental concerns necessitate waste valorization and reduced landfilling.
- Microbial conversion of waste offers a route to producing valuable chemicals.
- Dilute product concentrations in waste streams pose significant recovery challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review and highlight effective strategies for recovering biologically produced carboxylic acids and polymers from waste streams.
- To discuss separation techniques applicable to various carboxylic acid types and polymeric substances.
- To assess the potential of these recovery methods for advancing wastewater valorization.
Main Methods:
- Literature review focusing on separation and recovery techniques for carboxylic acids and polymers.
- Analysis of methods including liquid-liquid extraction, adsorption, and membrane separations for carboxylic acids.
- Examination of thermal treatment for unsaturated short-chain acids (USCA) production and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) fractionation.
Main Results:
- Established recovery techniques like liquid-liquid extraction, adsorption, and membrane separations are effective for carboxylic acids.
- Thermal treatment of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) offers a pathway to unsaturated short-chain acids (USCA).
- Fractionation strategies for extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) enable valorization of polysaccharides and proteins.
Conclusions:
- Effective separation strategies are vital for the economic viability of waste-derived chemical production.
- The reviewed techniques show significant potential for enhancing wastewater valorization chains.
- Further development in recovery technologies can unlock greater value from waste streams.
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