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OPPORTUNITIES FOR GROUNDWATER MICROBIAL ELECTRO-REMEDIATION
Pous, N., M.D. Balaguer, J. Colprim, and S. Puig.
Microbial Biotechnology [Publication online 6 Oct 2017 ahead of print]

Microbial electro-remediation by means of microbial electrochemical technologies (MET) can be applied to groundwater treatment in situ or ex situ as well as to monitoring chemical state or microbiological activity. In this technological approach, electroactive bacteria are able to use a solid electrode as an electron donor alternative to organic matter/hydrogen or as an electron acceptor alternative to oxygen/nitrate. Depending on contaminant and groundwater characteristics, a MET system can be operated as a microbial fuel cell (MFC) or as a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The MFC is an autonomous device from which energy can be extracted, while the MEC is a device that accepts energy to support or enhance a bioelectrochemical process. This paper reviews the application of microbial electro-remediation to organics, chlorinated hydrocarbons, inorganics, and nutrients (e.g., nitrate) in groundwater. This paper is Open Access at http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/1751-7915.12866/full.



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