Efficient technologies of treatment and recovery of wastewaters resources
Mentor: Fernando Martínez Castillejo
Email: fernando.castillejo@urjc.es
Phone: (+34) 914887182
University: Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Partner Host Institution: N.A.
Keywords: Microbial Electrochemical Technologies; Bioelectrosynthesis; Bioelectroxidation; Bioproducts; Wastewater;

Efficient technologies of treatment and recovery of wastewaters resources

Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) will be developed as sustainable and efficient methods to i) transform wastewater residual components into high value-added bioproducts, and/or ii) degrade recalcitrant pollutants.

The coupling of «photobiological» and «electrochemical» processes is proposed using purple phototrophic bacteria (PPB). Artificial addition of electrons may potentially alter the PPB metabolism, maximizing the transformation yield of residual carbon and nitrogen substrates into biohydrogen, bioplastics and bioproteins. PPB use infrared radiation as sole energy source, are highly electroactive and have a versatile metabolic system involving a huge number of carbon and nitrogen pathways. The coupling of MET with electro-oxidation processes like Fenton systems will be also explored in order to degrade biorefractory organic compounds by in situ generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2).

The smart and efficient use of electrical energy in METs to produce high value-added bioproducts from wastewaters and degrade biorefractory compounds is undoubtedly an attractive and novel challenge, yielding substantial ecological and economic benefits, including aspects such as environmental protection or even bioenergy production

Departament: Energy and Chemical Technology, Environmental and Chemical Technology, Mechanical Technology, Analytical Chemistry
Research Group: Chemical and Environmental Engineering Group
More Information: http://www.giqa.es/index_english.php?Section=main
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Relevants projects on the area: Tittle: "Integrated strategy for the treatment of oil refinery wastewaters with concominat co-production of biofuels and high-value bioproducts". Financial support: Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (CTM2017-82865-R). Duration: 2018-2021. Repsol is involved in the project developemtn.
Relevants publications on the area: 1.- I.A. Vasiliadou; A. Berná, A.; C. Manchon; J.A. Melero; F. Martinez; A. Esteve-Nuñez. Biological and bioelectrochemical systems for hydrogen production and carbon fixation using purple phototrophic bacteria. Frontiers in Energy Research, 6, 107 (2018).
2.- I. de las Heras; B. Padrino; R. Molina; Y. Segura; J. A. Melero; A. F. Mohedano; F. Martínez; D. Puyol. Efficient Treatment of Synthetic Wastewater Contaminated with Emerging Pollutants by Anaerobic Purple Phototrophic Bacteria. Frontiers in Wastewater Treatment and Modelling. Editor: Giorgio Manina. Editorial: Springer (ISBN: 978-3-319-58420-1) 324-330 (2017).