Proyecto I+D
Project PID2023-151000OA-I00 BioElectroH2
Design of sustainable materials for wastewater treatment coupled to hydrogen production by using bioelectrochemical systems
Of National scope. With a Public character. It has been granted under a regime of Competitive.
Among the current trends in the field of biotechnology and wastewater treatment, the recovery of waste and the production of alternative energy sources represent a challenge for today's society to promote the circular bioeconomy. These two approaches converge in Bioelectrochemical Systems, which can be used for the production of electricity, biogas, and hydrogen from organic matter in effluents such as wastewater and solid waste leachates. In this context, Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) offer an innovative route since they allow simultaneously wastewater treatment and hydrogen production. The main advantage of MEC technology over abiotic water electrolysis is that, at the anode, the oxidation of water is replaced by the oxidation of organic compounds, which can occur at significantly lower redox potentials. The oxidative processes that take place in these systems will be exploited in this project for the removal of pollutants of emerging concern (CEC), that is, pollutants whose appearance in aqueous effluents is relatively recent or whose concentration has increased significantly in recent years posing serious risks to both human health and the environment. This treatment of contaminants will be concomitant with the production of hydrogen. The economic feasibility for the implementation of the MEC technology requires a decrease in the external electrical energy that must be supplied to the cell, as well as an increase in the production of hydrogen, reducing th
