Trends of microbial electrochemical technologies for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment = Trends of microbial electrochemical technologies for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

The removal of organic carbon and nutrients (i.e. N and P) from wastewater is essential for the protection of the water environment. Especially, nitrogen compounds cause eutrophication in the water environment, resulting in bad water quality. Conventional nitrogen removal systems require high aeration costs and additional organic carbon. Microbial electrochemical system (MES) is a sustainable environmental system that treats wastewater and produces energy or valuable chemicals by using microbial electrochemical reaction. Innovative and cost-effective nitrogen removal is feasible by using MESs and increasing attention has been given to the MES development. In MEC, nitrogen removal technology through external applied voltage electrochemically oxidizes ammonium under perfect anaerobic conditions and achieves denitrification without additional carbon source. The nitrogen removal efficiency can be increased by improving the adhesion of electroactive microorganisms of the oxidation electrode and the reduction electrode catalyst of the MEC, the activity of the biofilm catalyst, and the electrode electron transfer efficiency. However, in terms of practical use, it is necessary to develop an effective electrode structure to solve the electrode clogging problem caused by various contaminants and suspended matter in wastewater.