Microbial Electrochemical Technologies for Sustainable Nitrogen Removal in Marine and Coastal Environments

María José De La Fuente, Carlos Gallardo-Bustos, Rodrigo De la Iglesia and Ignacio T. Vargas
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María José De La Fuente: Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
Carlos Gallardo-Bustos: Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile
Rodrigo De la Iglesia: Marine Energy Research & Innovation Center (MERIC), Santiago 7550268, Chile
Ignacio T. Vargas: Departamento de Ingeniería Hidráulica y Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago 7820436, Chile

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: For many years, the world’s coastal marine ecosystems have received industrial waste with high nitrogen concentrations, generating the eutrophication of these ecosystems. Different physicochemical-biological technologies have been developed to remove the nitrogen present in wastewater. However, conventional technologies have high operating costs and excessive production of brines or sludge which compromise the sustainability of the treatment. Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) have begun to gain attention due to their cost-efficiency in removing nitrogen and organic matter using the metabolic capacity of microorganisms. This article combines a critical review of the environmental problems associated with the discharge of the excess nitrogen and the biological processes involved in its biogeochemical cycle; with a comparative analysis of conventional treatment technologies and METs especially designed for nitrogen removal. Finally, current METs limitations and perspectives as a sustainable nitrogen treatment alternative and efficient microbial enrichment techniques are included.

Keywords: nitrogen removal; microbial electrochemical technologies (METs); bioelectrochemical reactors; nitrification; denitrification; seawater (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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