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Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) for Microbial Electroremediation: An Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technology

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Book cover Applied Environmental Biotechnology: Present Scenario and Future Trends

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) have been employed for various applications in recent years including energy production, wastewater treatment, electrosynthesis and desalination. The present chapter emphasizes the advantages and potential applications of BES for the remediation of recalcitrant pollutants present in various types of wastewaters. Bioelectricity generated from the treatment of these wastewaters is an additional energy output from the process along with the possible environmental solution. Since, the treatment mechanism of BES is combination of both microbial and electrochemical reactions, the process can be termed as microbial electroremediation. The current chapter depicts the principles of bioelectrochemical remediation, possible mechanisms at anode and cathode. Further, a comprehensive overview on different types of wastewater as well as nutrients, pollutants and toxic substances, utilized as electron donors or acceptors for their treatment, is discussed in detail under different categories. Microbial electroremediation is still an emerging field of science aimed at harnessing energy from wastewater treatment and it has a potential to boon the waste remediation with net positive energy gain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Separation & Conversion Technologies, VITO—Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Boeretang 200, 2400, Mol, Belgium

    Gunda Mohanakrishna, Sandipam Srikanth & Deepak Pant

Authors
  1. Gunda Mohanakrishna
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  2. Sandipam Srikanth
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  3. Deepak Pant
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Correspondence to Deepak Pant .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science,, School of Earth science, Central University of Rajasthan, Kishangarh, Ajmer, Rajasthan, India

    Garima Kaushik

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Mohanakrishna, G., Srikanth, S., Pant, D. (2015). Bioelectrochemical Systems (BES) for Microbial Electroremediation: An Advanced Wastewater Treatment Technology. In: Kaushik, G. (eds) Applied Environmental Biotechnology: Present Scenario and Future Trends. Springer, New Delhi. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-81-322-2123-4_10

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