Discover insights from thousands of peer-reviewed papers on microbial electrochemical systems
Moeen Gholami, Behrooz Abbasi Souraki, Abbas Shomali et al.
Environmental Technology · 2024
ABSTRACT In the present study, a bioelectrochemical reactor (BEC) was utilized to treat two types of real saline produced water (PW). BEC was designed based on the combination of electrocoagulation (EC) process with halophilic microorganisms, and it was assessed in terms of biodegradation of hydrocarbons. The effects of various operating parameters including the current density, electrical contact time (On/Off), hydraulic retention time (HRT), and total dissolved solids (TDS) at different levels on the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, settleability, and performance of isolated halophilic microorganisms were examined. Additionally, a novel neural network (ANN) approach modelling using adaptive factors was used to predict and optimize the effects and interactions between operating parameters during BEC process by predicting complicated mechanisms and variations associated with microorganisms. In addition, a new algorithm was developed for the sensitivity analysis to achieve the optimum operating conditions and obtain maximum efficiency in COD removal, sludge volume index (SVI), mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and specific electrical energy consumption (SEEC), simultaneously. BEC was found to be significantly more effective at removing most hydrocarbons, particularly pristine and phytane. In addition, the results showed a significant improvement in settling ability of the biological flocs with average SVI of 91.5 mL/g and a size of 178.25 μm using BEC. Based on estimated operating costs and energy consumption, BEC was more cost-effective and efficient than other bioelectrochemical systems.
Anis Askari, Milad Taherkhani, Farzaneh Vahabzadeh
Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering · 2022
Nuan Yang, Guoqiang Zhan, Huiqin Luo et al.
Bioresource Technology · 2021
Simultaneous nitrification/denitrification (SND) can efficiently deplete NH 4 + by using air-exposed biocathode (AEB) in bioelectrochemical reactors. However, the fluctuation of wastewater adversely affects the functional biofilms and therefore the performance. In this work, four up-flow bioelectrochemical reactors (UBERs) with some novel inocula were investigated to improve domestic wastewater treatment. The UBERs exhibited favorable removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD, 95%), NH 4 + -N (99%), and total nitrogen (TN, 99%). The maximum of current (2.7 A/m 3 ), power density (136 mW/m 3 ) and coulombic efficiency (20.5%) were obtained. Cyclic voltammetry analysis showed all the electrodes were of diversified catalytic reactions. Illumina pyrosequencing showed the predominant Ignavibacterium, Thauera, Nitrosomonas, Geminicoccus and Nitrospira were in all electrodes, contributing functional biofilms performing SND, comammox, and bioelectrochemical reactions. FAPROTAX analysis confirmed twenty-one functional groups with obvious changes related to chemoheterotrophy, respiration/oxidation/denitrification of nitrite and nitrate. Comfortingly, such novel diversified consortia in UBERs enhance the microbial metabolisms to treat domestic wastewater.
Vafa Ahmadi, Carlos Dinamarca, Nabin Aryal
Results in Engineering · 2025
Xavier Alexis Walter, Anastasiia Kostrytsia, Helen Watson et al.
Bioresource Technology · 2024
Florence de Fouchécour, Valentin Larzillière, Théodore Bouchez et al.
Water Research · 2022
Wastewater treatment is generally performed using energy-intensive processes, such as activated sludge. Improving energy efficiency has become one of the main challenges for next-generation wastewater treatment plants. Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) have been attracting attention because they take advantage of the chemical energy contained in wastewater while enabling the valorization of effluents: either with electrical energy (microbial fuel cells) or with useful chemicals (microbial electrolysis cells). Bioelectrochemical waste water treatment has been under investigation since the early 2000s and is now the subject of an abundant literature, which is most frequently focused on anodic COD removal. Comparing results obtained in different studies is particularly difficult with BES, because many different parameters (effluent characteristics, inoculation, design, and operation) may interact and because using real effluents results in high variability. To address this issue, data were retrieved from 1,073 articles that were selected objectively and with transparency. This sys tematic review evaluates the potential of anodic wastewater treatment, based on 4,579 experimental observa tions. Overall, BES has already shown satisfactory treatment capacity, with a median chemical oxygen demand removal of 72%. However, the median coulombic efficiency was only 18%, increasing this parameter offers the greatest opportunity for BES improvement.
Mehran Janmohammadi, Baiqian Shi, Tanveer M. Adyel et al.
Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering · 2025
Haitai Dong, Xingzu Wang, Shun Lu et al.
Polymer Degradation and Stability · 2023
Lei Xu, Wenzheng Yu, Nigel Graham et al.
Chemosphere · 2021
Bioelectrochemical system (BES) based biosensors for organic sensing has long been investigated. However, there is no uniform criterion to evaluate directly the performance of the BES based biosensors due to their different scale. Here, for the first time, we show that the normalized maximum detection range (NMDR) and normalized sensing time (NST) can potentially be used as the two criteria in BES based biosensors for organic sensing. Thereafter, the recently emerged, relatively larger scale BES (i.e. constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell, CW-MFC) was specifically examined in this study. The biocathode formation and the influence of anodic material on sensor performance were systematically evaluated. The system with metal-based anode was found to produce a more stable and quicker response (low NST) than that with carbon-based anode. Significantly, the continuous loading mode was found to greatly reduce the NMDR compared to the batch mode, and the hydraulic residence time (HRT) is the critical factor determining the NMDR. Furthermore, it was found that the electrical signals generated from the CW-MFC system were insignificantly influenced by some specific chemical disturbances, such as Cu 2+ and herbicide. Therefore, normalized toxicity (NT) is suggested to be considered in BES based biosensor. However, for chemicals with higher reduction potentials (NO 3 - in this work), the system presented a high response, enabling its potential for monitoring NO 3 - in effluents or groundwater. This study can hopefully contribute to further development of the sustainable BES based biosensors in CW.
Anis Askari, Farzaneh Vahabzadeh, Mohammad Mahdi Mardanpour
Journal of Cleaner Production · 2021
Negin Naghibi, Moj Khaleghi, Seyed Ahmad Ataei et al.
Journal of Water Process Engineering · 2025
Ademola Adekunle, Carrie Rickwood, Boris Tartakovsky
Ecotoxicology · 2021
Real-time biomonitoring using microbial fuel cell (MFC) based biosensors have been demonstrated in several laboratory studies, but field validation is lacking. This study describes the long-term performance of an MFC based biosensor developed for real-time monitoring of changes in the water quality of a metal-contaminated stream. After a startup in the laboratory, biosensors were deployed in a stream close to an active mining complex in Sudbury, ON, Canada. Three sites within the stream were selected for biosensors installation based on their positions relative to the mining complex discharge points - upstream (lowest heavy metals concentration), midpoint and downstream. The biosensors installed at these sites were able to detect, in real-time, temporal changes in the water quality over a 2-month period. The biosensor response was confirmed by the results of a conventional toxicity assay (48-h acute Daphnia magna) as well as analytical measurements of heavy metals concentration in the stream. We conclude that the biosensor could detect changes in the overall water quality of the stream despite the uncontrolled situations typical for field operations as compared to laboratory conditions. To further explain the results observed during the field test, the rapid Microtox bioassay and D. magna assay were used to investigate the possible contributions of the two dominant mining metals (Nickel and Copper) to water toxicity in the test area.
Trang Nakamoto, Dung Nakamoto, Kozo Taguchi
Biochemical Engineering Journal · 2023
Xiao-Li Yang, Qi Wang, Tao Li et al.
Bioresource Technology · 2022
Antibiotics removal and ARGs control in microbial fuel cell (MFC) has received extensive attention. In particular, the critical role of bioelectrochemical characteristics deserves further study. Bioelectrochemical characteristics significantly affected sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal and ARGs fate, in which the current intensity played a more critical role than anode potential. High-concentration SMX (2 mg/L and 10 mg/L) facilitated the anode potential tend to be close, and thus, the strengthening effect of current on the system was highlighted. However, the SMX degradation pathway under different bioelectrochemical characteristics was not affected. Furthermore, the higher current intensity was preferable to antibiotic removal, but unfavorable for ARGs control might be due to the oxidative stress on microorganisms. Low-concentration SMX (0.5 mg/L) contributed to improving higher electricity generation because of Geobacter enrichement. This study suggested that appropriate bioelectrochemical characteristics regulation in MFCs was essential in removing antibiotics and controlling ARGs.
Ke Zhang, Tingting Wang, Hongbing Luo et al.
Journal of Water Process Engineering · 2023
Qian Zhao, Zhen Hu, Jian Zhang et al.
Journal of Hazardous Materials · 2023
Chloramphenicol (CAP) has a high concentration and detection frequency in aquatic environments due to its insufficient degradation in traditional biological wastewater treatment processes. In this study, bioelectrochemical assistant-constructed wetland systems (BES-CWs) were developed as advanced processes for efficient CAP removal, in which the degradation and transfer of CAP and the fate of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) were evaluated. The CAP removal efficiency could reach as high as 90.2%, while the removed CAP can be partially adsorbed and bioaccumulated in plants, significantly affecting plant growth. The vertical gene transfer and horizontal gene transfer increased the abundance of ARGs under high voltage and CAP concentrations. Microbial community analysis showed that CAP pressure and electrical stimulation selected the functional bacteria to increase CAP removal and antibiotic resistance. CAP degradation species carrying ARGs could increase their opposition to the biotoxicity of CAP and maintain system performance. In addition, ARGs are transferred into the plant and upward, which can potentially enter the food chain. This study provides an essential reference for enhancing antibiotic degradation and offers fundamental support for the underlying mechanism and ARG proliferation during antibiotic biodegradation.
Ke Zhao, Shenghe Liu, Yimeng Feng et al.
Science of The Total Environment · 2024
Ercheng Luo, Guishi Cheng, Yanchang Liu et al.
Journal of Power Sources · 2025
Hegazy Rezk, Abdul Ghani Olabi, Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem et al.
International Journal of Energy Research · 2022
Santiago T Boto, Lorenzo Cristiani, Miriam A Rosenbaum
Current Opinion in Biotechnology · 2025
Microbial bioelectrochemical systems (BES) represent a promising platform for sustainable biochemical production by leveraging microbial electrocatalysis. These systems utilize electrical energy to drive microbial metabolic processes, enabling the recovery of CO₂ into valuable organic molecules such as methane, acetate, ethanol, and other biochemicals. This approach aligns with global efforts to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and create circular carbon economies. The advancement of BES technology requires both scale-down and scale-up strategies to ensure feasibility and scalability. Scale-down approaches focus on optimizing operational parameters, enhancing electron transfer efficiencies, and understanding microbial community dynamics under controlled conditions. Scale-up efforts address the challenges of maintaining system stability, energy efficiency, and economic viability in larger, industrial-scale operations. Together, these strategies bridge the gap between fundamental laboratory research and real-world applications, positioning microbial BES as a key technology for sustainable biochemical production and captured carbon utilization.
Ioannis A. Ieropoulos, Aradhana Singh, Daniela Zertuche Moreno et al.
Current Opinion in Electrochemistry · 2024
Zhiming Zhang, Dibyendu Sarkar, Liang Li et al.
Current Pollution Reports · 2022
Christina F Webster, Won-Jun Kim, Gemma Reguera et al.
Current Opinion in Biotechnology · 2024
Prakash C. Sahoo, Deepak Pant, Manoj Kumar et al.
Current Opinion in Electrochemistry · 2024
Xinxin Xiao, Xiaomei Yan, Jens Ulstrup
Current Opinion in Electrochemistry · 2022
Laura Mais, Jesus Rodriguez, Nicola Melis et al.
Current Opinion in Electrochemistry · 2024
Kamonwan Khanthong, Heewon Jang, Rahul Kadam et al.
Chemosphere · 2023
Biological nitrogen removal (BNR) is essential for the treatment of nitrogen-containing wastewater. However, the requirement for aeration and the addition of external carbon sources, resulting in greenhouse gas emissions and additional costs, are disadvantages of the traditional BNR process. Alternative technologies have been devised to overcome these drawbacks. Bioelectrochemical nitrogen removal (BENR) has been proposed for efficient nitrogen removal, demonstrating flexibility and versatility. BENR can be performed by combining nitrification, denitrification, anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX), or organic carbon oxidation. Bioelectrochemical-ANAMMOX (BE-ANAMMOX) is the most promising method for nitrogen removal, as it can directly convert NH 4 + to N 2 and H 2 in one step when the electrode is arranged as an electron acceptor. High-value-added hydrogen can potentially be recovered with efficient nitrogen removal using this concept, maximizing the benefits of BENR. Using alternative electron acceptors, such as electrodes and metal ions, for complete total nitrogen removal is a promising technology to substitute NO 2 - production from NH 4 + oxidation by aeration. However, the requirement of electron donors for NO 3 - reduction, low NH 4 + removal efficiency, and low competitiveness of exoelectrogenic bacteria still remain the main obstacles. The future direction for successful BENR should aim to achieve complete anaerobic NH 4 + oxidation without any electron acceptor and to maximize selectivity in H 2 production. Therefore, the bioelectrochemical pathways and balances between efficient nitrogen removal and high-value-added chemical production should be further studied for carbon and energy neutralities.
Md Monzurul Islam Anoy, Eric Allen Hill, Marci Ranae Garcia et al.
Enzyme and Microbial Technology · 2024
Zhixing Xiao, Dong Wang, Ting Xia et al.
Journal of Water Process Engineering · 2021
Lian-gang Hou, Qi Sun, Zheng-wei Pan et al.
Desalination and Water Treatment · 2023
Ali Rezaei, Soheil Aber, Deborah J. Roberts et al.
Chemosphere · 2022
Zanyun Ying, Han Chen, Zheng He et al.
Journal of Power Sources · 2022
Razieh Rafieenia, Mohamed Mahmoud, Fatma El-Gohary et al.
Sustainable Energy Technologies and Assessments · 2022
Jian Yu, Juping You, Piet N.L. Lens et al.
Water Research · 2023
Wenwen Chen, Zhongliang Liu, Yanxia Li et al.
Journal of Power Sources · 2021
Yi-Ran Wang, Ke-Wan Li, Yi-Xuan Wang et al.
Environmental Research · 2022
Lei He, Xuejie He, Ying Zhang et al.
Bioresource Technology · 2025
Bidirectional electron transfer biofilms (BETB) could efficiently reduce nitrate without accumulating nitrite, representing a promising biological electrochemical denitrification technology. This study utilized iron phthalocyanine modified carbon felt (FePc-CF) to enrich electroactive bacteria, constructing a long-term stable FePc-BETB. Its nitrate removal rate reached 91%, far exceeding the traditional nitrate-reducing biocathode (45%) and Con-BETB (46%). The dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) dominated nitrate reduction in FePc-BETB, consuming 35% of the total electrons. Additionally, FePc-BETB effectively reduced the accumulation of NO 2 - -N and N 2 O. Electrochemical analysis demonstrated FePc-BETB exhibited stronger electrochemical activity and electron transfer capability. Mediated electron transfer (MET) enhanced by increased extracellular humic acid in FePc-BETB favored the electron supplement for nitrate removal. The relative abundance of nrfA, marker of the DNRA, increased significantly. This study provided new insights into regulating denitrification and DNRA pathways and treating nitrate wastewater lacking electron donors.
Mingrui Sui, Yi Li, Yiying Jiang et al.
Water Research · 2021
Light plays a vital role in shaping the structure of natural biofilms, but the effect of light on electroactive biofilm (EAB) has not been systematically studied. Herein, the influence of light on the formation of EAB was investigated. The EAB grown in darkness was more electroactive (EAB-0) with a peak current of ∼4.5 A/m 2 , which was 196 and 5556 times higher than EABs formed under light intensities of 600 (EAB-600) and 1200 lux (EAB-1200). A thin EAB (30 μm) with spherical pink aggregates was obtained after 13 days in the darkness, comparing to a dense and flat biofilm grown under light conditions. Although the biomass in EAB-1200 (38.5 ± 1.6 mg/L) was 3 times larger than that in EAB-0 (11.4 ± 1.8 mg/L), the degradation of substrate was not sufficient. EAB-0 contained 85% Geobacter species, while the Rhodopseudomonas species made up 66% and 75% of EAB-600 and EAB-1200, respectively. The polysaccharides produced by EAB-1200 was 4801 ± 253 mg/m 2 , which were 2.3 times higher than 2073 ± 160 mg/m 2 of EAB-0, resulting in lower electro-conductivity of the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) under light conditions. Our findings confirmed that the light exposure affected EAB performance by altering the microbial components, electron transfer capacity, and biofilm morphology, which can be used in predictions of the formation and properties of engineered EAB in outdoor environments.
Liumei Wen, Lingyan Huang, Yi Wang et al.
Science of The Total Environment · 2022
Hematite has been proven to be an excellent material for enhancing extracellular electron transfer (EET) in microbial bioelectrochemical systems (BESs). However, the effect of hematite with different exposed facets on microbial EET remains unclear. Here, we synthesized two types of hematite nanoparticles with high {100} and {001} facet exposure (Hem_{100} and Hem_{001}), respectively, which were coated on ITO electrode to stimulate the microbial EET in the BESs. The results showed that the maximum biocurrent density of commercial hematite nanoparticles (Hem_NPs), Hem_{100} and Hem_{001} electrodes reached 73.33 ± 5.68, 129.33 ± 9.12 and 287.00 ± 19.89 μA cm -2 from three replicates of each treatment, respectively. The current generation achieved from the Hem_{001} electrode was nearly 199-times higher than that of the blank ITO electrode (1.44 ± 0.10 μA cm -2 ). The electrochemical measurements showed that the lowest charge transfer resistance (R ct ) was observed for the Hem_{001}, and the promoted biofilm formation and EPS secretion on the Hem_{001} electrode were also revealed, which could contribute the high performance of this electrode. Moreover, metagenomic analysis revealed that Hem_{001} might facilitate the microbial EET by stimulating the expression of genes related to cytochrome c and conductive nanowires. This study not only provides a new strategy to enhance microbial electrogenesis but also expands the knowledge of the effect of facet on microbial EET, helping to develop more efficient electrode materials in the future.
Pin Peng, Xinyu Yan, Lixiang Chen et al.
Environmental Research · 2025
Livestock wastewater is characterized by high concentrations of organic matter and diverse antibiotics. A major challenge in its anaerobic treatment is the effective degradation and thorough removal of coexisting antibiotic contaminants. In this study, an external voltage was applied to establish an electroactive biofilm, thereby enhancing the co-metabolic degradation of sulfamethoxazole and roxarsone. Application of +0.6 V (Ag/AgCl) increased the 72 h TOC removal efficiency to 52.1 %. At the same time, sulfamethoxazole and roxarsone removal efficiencies reached 90.8 % and 100 %, respectively. The results from liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS/MS) and density functional theory calculations revealed sulfamethoxazole degradation pathways: N-O bond cleavage and hydroxylation. Roxarsone degradation primarily involved nitro group reduction and C-As bond cleavage. The pharmacophore of sulfamethoxazole was effectively removed, and inorganic arsenic from roxarsone degradation was efficiently immobilized. Toxicity analysis confirmed that the electroactive biofilm notably reduced toxic intermediate accumulation. Elevated concentrations of NADH and ATP in the electroactive biofilm indicated enhanced microbial substrate metabolism and generation of more electron donors. The higher absolute abundance of the sulfamethoxazole degradation gene (SadABC) in the electroactive biofilm indicated that sulfamethoxazole degrading enzyme (sadABC) gained more electrons. Microbiome analysis revealed the upregulation of genes linked to extracellular electron transfer, the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, nitro-reduction, and sulfate reduction pathway, confirming the electroactive biofilm enhances substrate metabolism and co-metabolic antibiotic degradation. Electroactive biofilm offers a viable strategy for antibiotic removal in livestock wastewater.