CiMER: Char included Microbial Electrochemical Remediation of pesticides and pharmaceuticals from wastewater

Abstract

Emerging contaminants like pesticides and pharmaceuticals in wastewater are an increasing environmental issue. Where traditional wastewater treatment technologies are energy demanding and/or creating chemical waste, microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) in existing applications such as constructed wetlands can be a durable alternative. Char, a low-cost carbon-based material made through pyrolysis of waste biomass, provides a large surface area for bacterial attachment. Based on pyrolysis conditions it can function as an anode material. This poster provides a general introduction of what we have termed CiMER (Char included Microbial Electrochemical Remediation) and the proposed methodology towards the envisaged contaminant remediation.