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Updated: Aug 8, 2025

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
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.
Abstract:
Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have emerged as a technology that is able to recover resources from different kinds of substrates, especially wastewater. Nutrient recovery, mostly based on membrane reactor configuration, is a clear niche for BES application. The recovery of nitrogen or phosphorus allows for treatment of wastewater while simultaneously collecting a concentrated stream with nutrients that can be reintroduced into the system, becoming a circular economy solution. The aim of this study is to review recent advances in membrane-based BESs for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery and compare the recovery efficiencies and energy requirements of each system. Finally, there is a discussion of the main issues that arise from using membrane-based BESs. The results presented in this review show that it would be beneficial to intensify research on BESs to improve recovery efficiencies at the lowest construction cost in order to take the final step towards scaling up and commercialising this technology.
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