Electrochemistry Applications in Decentralized Wastewater Treatment

Abstract

Electrochemical systems can be used in wastewater treatment to minimize energy consumption and biosolids generation with valuable resource recovery. In this chapter, potential applications of electrochemical systems, including bioelectrochemical systems (BES) and electrodialysis (ED), in decentralized wastewater treatment are discussed. Specifically, we focused on wastewater treatability for rapid organic removal and minimal biosolids generation in scalable multi-electrode microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). Also, the recovery of valuable resources using BES is thoroughly reviewed in this chapter. In particular, BES coupled with small-scale anaerobic digestion can enhance biogas production and improve biosolids management with a significantly reduced size of anaerobic digesters, allowing process intensification. Nutrient ions, such as ammonium and phosphate, can be separated from wastewater using ion exchange membranes (IEMs) to produce land fertilizers for food production. The challenges for ED applications in small-scale wastewater treatment, such as IEM fouling and scaling problems, are explained and discussed in this chapter.