Bioelectrochemical Treatment of Contaminated Groundwater

Abstract

To remove these pollutants from groundwater, different technologies can be used. Currently, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers ion exchange, reverse osmosis and reverse electrodialysis to be effective methods for the decrease of their concentrations, below their limit in drinking water. These technologies have some drawbacks, such as low selectivity towards the target pollutant, high energy or chemicals requirements, and the generation of waste brine (pollutants are separated from water, not treated), which require an additional treatment. Bio Electro Chemical Systems (BES) could fill this nich

Modified Carbon Electrodes: A New Approach for Bioelectrochemical Systems

“…Bioenergy production from waste streams can lead to the reduction of pollution, but also decrease the cost of their treatment. Among the new environmental friendly technologies, microbial bioelectrochemical systems (BESs), like microbial fuel cell (MFC) [1] or microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) [2], are considered one of the best alternatives for the sustainable waste treatment of contaminated groundwater [3], wastewater [4] and air polluted streams, and the concomitant production of energy or added value chemicals. [5] One of the critical challenges of these systems is to improve the interaction electrode-microorganism to ensure an effective transfer of electrons between the solid-state electrode and the biocatalyst.…”