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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery

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Published on: January 22, 2015

Recent Advances in Bioelectrochemical Systems for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Recovery Using Membranes.

Míriam Cerrillo¹, Victor Riau¹, August Bonmatí¹

¹Sustainability in Biosystems, Institute of Agrifood Research and Technology (IRTA), Torre Marimon, Caldes de Montbui, E-08140 Barcelona, Spain.

|February 25, 2023

Summary

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) offer a sustainable solution for wastewater treatment by recovering nitrogen and phosphorus. Further research is needed to optimize efficiency and reduce costs for commercialization.

Keywords:

ammonium bioelectrochemical systems membrane migration phosphorus

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Area of Science:

Environmental Science
Electrochemistry
Chemical Engineering

Background:

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are emerging technologies for resource recovery from wastewater.
Nutrient recovery, particularly nitrogen and phosphorus, is a key application for BESs, aligning with circular economy principles.

Purpose of the Study:

To review recent advancements in membrane-based BESs for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery.
To compare the efficiency and energy demands of different membrane-based BES configurations.
To discuss challenges hindering the widespread adoption of these systems.

Main Methods:

Literature review of recent studies on membrane-based BESs.
Comparative analysis of recovery efficiencies and energy requirements.
Identification and discussion of key challenges and limitations.

Main Results:

Membrane-based BESs show promise for simultaneous wastewater treatment and nutrient recovery.
Significant variations exist in recovery efficiencies and energy consumption across different BES designs.
Key challenges include optimizing performance, reducing costs, and scaling up the technology.

Conclusions:

Continued research is essential to enhance nutrient recovery efficiencies in BESs.
Reducing construction and operational costs is critical for the commercialization of BES technology.
BESs represent a viable pathway towards sustainable wastewater management and resource circularity.