Development in Wastewater Treatment Research and Processes: Bioelectrochemical Systems for Wastewater Management

Industrial wastewater contains harmful compounds, making treatment challenging. Conventional methods are expensive and contribute to greenhouse gas emissions. BESs, a sustainable technology, offers effective and environmentally friendly treatment. This book explores hybrid processes for complex industrial wastewater treatment, recovery of valuable compounds, and water reutilization. BESs have high effectiveness, low toxicity, and energy conservation advantages.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 512 pages
Publication date: 21 October 2022
Publisher: Elsevier - Health Sciences Division

Industrial wastewater presents a complex challenge due to the presence of a wide range of compounds, including hazardous organic pollutants, heavy metals, salts, and nutrients. Conventional water treatment methods often fail to effectively treat this wastewater due to the high energy demand and associated greenhouse gas emissions. As a result, there is a need for sustainable and cost-effective solutions to address this issue.

Enter bioelectrochemical systems (BES), which have emerged as a promising technology for treating complex industrial wastewater. BESs utilize microbial and electrochemical processes to efficiently convert organic waste into valuable compounds, such as electricity, hydrogen, or chemical products. One of the key advantages of BES is its high effectiveness in treating wastewater, with reported treatment efficiencies reaching up to 99%. Additionally, BESs are characterized by their low toxicity, gentle operation conditions, and environmentally friendly treatment without the accumulation of sludge.

Furthermore, BESs offer energy conservation benefits by utilizing the chemical energy of organic wastes. This not only reduces the energy required for wastewater treatment but also contributes to the overall sustainability of the process.

In recent years, there has been significant research and development in the field of BESs, with many studies exploring the potential of microbial and electrochemical based hybrid processes for the treatment of complex industrial wastewater. These hybrid processes combine the advantages of both microbial and electrochemical technologies to achieve more efficient and sustainable treatment outcomes.

One area of focus in BES research is the recovery of valuable compounds from wastewater. By employing microbial processes, such as anaerobic digestion or fermentation, organic waste can be broken down into valuable byproducts, such as organic acids, amino acids, and carbohydrates. These byproducts can then be further processed or utilized as valuable raw materials.

Another area of interest is water reutilization, which is an important aspect of sustainable wastewater management. BESs can be designed to treat wastewater and recover water that can be reused for various purposes, such as irrigation, industrial processes, or drinking water. This not only reduces the demand for fresh water but also helps to conserve water resources.

In conclusion, BESs have the potential to revolutionize the treatment of complex industrial wastewater. By combining microbial and electrochemical processes, BESs offer high effectiveness, low toxicity, gentle operation conditions, and environmentally friendly treatment without sludge accumulation. Additionally, BESs provide energy conservation benefits and offer opportunities for the recovery of valuable compounds and water reutilization. With ongoing research and development, BESs are expected to play an increasingly important role in sustainable wastewater management in the future.

Dimension: 235 x 191 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780323885058