Ricerc@Sapienza

In this paper, a bioelectrochemical process has been developed by the combination of two membrane-less reactors equipped with an internal graphite granules counterelectrode for the perchloroethylene (PCE) removal through a reductive/oxidative sequence. In the reductive reactor, the cathodic chamber supplied the reducing power to PCE dechlorinating biomass while a rutile electrode promoted the aerobic dechlorination of the less chlorinated PCE byproducts by oxygen in situ evolution.

Methane and acetate production through CO2 reduction has been tested by using chemoautotrophic microorganisms under bioelectrochemical and hydrogenophilic conditions. For the methanogenic tests, a thermophilic anaerobic sludge has been used as inoculum while the thermal treatment of the anaerobic sludge allowed the acetogenic inoculum selection.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging technology which exploits microbial cells to convert CO2 into fuels, and value-added chemicals using electrons supplied by a solid-state cathode. Methane and acetic acid are typically the main CO2-reduction products attained in microbial electrosynthesis studies, although the production of other more valuable products has also been reported.

An innovative bioelectrochemical reductive/oxidative sequential process was developed and tested on a laboratory scale to obtain the complete mineralization of perchloroethylene (PCE) in a synthetic medium. The sequential bioelectrochemical process consisted of two separate tubular bioelectrochemical reactors that adopted a novel reactor configuration, avoiding the use of an ion exchange membrane to separate the anodic and cathodic chamber and reducing the cost of the reactor.

The utilization of a pilot scale tubular Microbial Electrolysis Cell (MEC), has been tested as an innovative biogas upgrading technology. The bioelectromethanogenesis reaction permits the reduction of the CO2 into CH4 by using a biocathode as electrons donor, while the electroactive oxidation of organic matter in the bioanode partially sustains the energy demand of the process. The MEC has been tested with a synthetic wastewater and biogas by using two different polarization strategies, i.e.