Resource recovery from wastewater with Bioelectrochemical Systems
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Manchester
Department Name: Earth Atmospheric and Env Sciences
Abstract
Production and recovery of energy and industrial materials from novel biological sources reduces our dependency on the Earth's finite mineral petrochemical resources and helps the UK economy to become a low carbon economy. Recovering energy and valuable resources such as metals from waste materials is an attractive but challenging prospect. The valuable materials are usually present in wastes at very low levels and present as a highly complex mixture. This makes it very difficult to concentrate and purify them in an economically sustainable manner.
In recent years there have been exciting advances in our understanding of ways in which microorganisms can extract the energy locked up in the organic compounds found in wastewater and in the process generate electricity. This is achieved in devices known as microbial fuel cells (MFC). In an MFC microorganisms on the anode oxidize organic compounds and in doing so generate electrons. These electrons are passed into an electrical circuit and transferred to the MFC cathode where they usually react with oxygen to form water, sustaining an electric current in the process. In theory MFC can be configured such that, rather than conversion of oxygen to water at the cathode they could convert metal ions to metals or drive the synthesis of valuable chemicals. It is our aim to develop such systems that use energy harvested from wastewater to recover metals from metal-containing waste streams and for the synthesis of valuable chemicals, ultimately from CO2.
This project will bring together experts from academia and industry to devise ways in which this can be achieved and will form the foundation of a research programme where scientists working on fundamental research and those with the skills to translate laboratory science to industrial processes will work together to develop sustainable processes for the production of valuable resources from waste.
In recent years there have been exciting advances in our understanding of ways in which microorganisms can extract the energy locked up in the organic compounds found in wastewater and in the process generate electricity. This is achieved in devices known as microbial fuel cells (MFC). In an MFC microorganisms on the anode oxidize organic compounds and in doing so generate electrons. These electrons are passed into an electrical circuit and transferred to the MFC cathode where they usually react with oxygen to form water, sustaining an electric current in the process. In theory MFC can be configured such that, rather than conversion of oxygen to water at the cathode they could convert metal ions to metals or drive the synthesis of valuable chemicals. It is our aim to develop such systems that use energy harvested from wastewater to recover metals from metal-containing waste streams and for the synthesis of valuable chemicals, ultimately from CO2.
This project will bring together experts from academia and industry to devise ways in which this can be achieved and will form the foundation of a research programme where scientists working on fundamental research and those with the skills to translate laboratory science to industrial processes will work together to develop sustainable processes for the production of valuable resources from waste.
Planned Impact
The main impact of the proposed technology that will be evaluated is the application of bioelectrochemical systems to tackle the burden of waste treatment (nationally and eventually Internationally) and transferring the energy, metals and minerals contained within to produce useful products. The proposed bioelectrochemical system will have wide applications particularly to industries producing wastewater with high organic content. Thus potential non-academic beneficiaries may include the food and drink industry, breweries, agriculture and the paper and pulp industry and also water utilities charged with sustainable treatment of wastewater from a range of sources. The technologies that will be developed in the project will permit them to recover value from their waste products. More immediately the research will have impact on our industrial collaborators who will be involved in developing new materials and processes as a result of their collaboration with the academic researchers in this project ( e.g. Chemviron Carbon, MagnetoChemie, WH Partnership). These and other organizations will be involved from the outset in identifying research needs and planning a project that will meet them. The societal significance of reducing our reliance on fossil fuels and geological resources is immense and this will clearly impact environmental regulators, policy makers and politicians. The accompanying Pathways to Impact document details how we will maximize the chances of realizing these impacts through various activities designed to foster close collaboration an engagement with potential non-academic beneficiaries.
Organisations
Publications
Christgen B
(2019)
Resource Recovery from Wastes - Towards a Circular Economy
Kaur A
(2019)
Bioelectrochemical treatment and recovery of copper from distillery waste effluents using power and voltage control strategies.
in Journal of hazardous materials
Kimber R
(2019)
Synthesis of copper catalysts for click chemistry from distillery wastewater using magnetically recoverable bionanoparticles
in Green Chemistry
Kimber RL
(2018)
Biosynthesis and Characterization of Copper Nanoparticles Using Shewanella oneidensis: Application for Click Chemistry.
in Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)
Kimber RL
(2020)
Biomineralization of Cu2S Nanoparticles by Geobacter sulfurreducens.
in Applied and environmental microbiology
Lloyd J
(2019)
Resource Recovery from Wastes - Towards a Circular Economy
Ng K
(2016)
A multilevel sustainability analysis of zinc recovery from wastes
in Resources, Conservation and Recycling
Sadhukhan J
(2016)
A critical review of integration analysis of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems with waste biorefineries for the production of biofuel and chemical from reuse of CO 2
in Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
Sadhukhan J
(2017)
Life cycle assessment of sustainable raw material acquisition for functional magnetite bionanoparticle production.
in Journal of environmental management
Description | Our project successfully demonstrated the recovery of a range of target metals from solution using novel bacterial systems, and showed that the metals are recovered as nanoparticles with useful catalytic properties. |
Exploitation Route | We wrote several follow on grant applications with a range of industrial stakeholders; active follow-on grants include a major BBSRC responsive mode grant and a smaller EPSRC KT grant with Chivas whiskey distillers. |
Sectors | Agriculture, Food and Drink,Chemicals,Energy,Environment,Manufacturing, including Industrial Biotechology,Pharmaceuticals and Medical Biotechnology |
Description | Copper recovery and valorisation of distillery wastes using biogenic magnetic nanoparticles |
Amount | £32,955 (GBP) |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 04/2019 |
End | 09/2019 |
Description | Copper recovery and valorisation of distillery wastes using biogenic magnetic nanoparticles |
Amount | £18,795 (GBP) |
Funding ID | IAA240 |
Organisation | Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 10/2019 |
End | 03/2020 |
Description | Developing a novel chemo-enzymatic catalytic cascade for the production of stereoselective high-value chemicals |
Amount | £9,733 (GBP) |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 05/2020 |
End | 07/2020 |
Description | Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) - Business Innovation Voucher |
Amount | £10,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BIVMiB037 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 06/2017 |
End | 10/2017 |
Description | Networks in Industrial Biotechnology and Bioenergy (NIBB) - Proof of Concept Award |
Amount | £24,963 (GBP) |
Funding ID | ISCFPOCMiB041 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 11/2017 |
End | 02/2018 |
Description | Responsive Mode |
Amount | £713,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | BB/R010412/1 |
Organisation | Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2018 |
End | 02/2021 |
Description | SEAES Research Fund |
Amount | £350 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 03/2016 |
End | 07/2016 |
Description | SEES PDRA Research Fund 2016/2017 |
Amount | £315 (GBP) |
Organisation | University of Manchester |
Sector | Academic/University |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 02/2017 |
End | 07/2017 |
Description | Chemistry World article on Green Chemistry publication |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Chemistry World article released on publication in Green Chemistry. Publication authors were interviewed via email. Article link: https://www.chemistryworld.com/news/catalyst-metal-recovery-adds-greener-notes-to-whisky-production/3010740.article Article was subsequently tweeted by Chemistry World and various RSC journals. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
Description | Goldschmidt conference presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk on microbial production of metal nanoparticles for use as high-value catalysts in organic transformation reactions important to the pharmaceutical industry. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | JRL gave Pint of Science talk, 17th MAY 2017 Bluu Smithfield Market Hall |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Approx 50 general public attended Pint of Science talk, 17th MAY 2017 Bluu Smithfield Market Hall on microbes in the environment (one of three speakers) |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Microbiology Society Annual Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Offered oral presentation on microbial production of click-chemistry copper catalysts |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Microbiology Society Annual Conference presentation |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Awarded oral presentation on microbial processes for sustainable catalyst production, including recovery of metals from waste streams. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | Presentation at 2nd European Mineralogical Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Other audiences |
Results and Impact | Offered oral presentation on microbial production of copper catalysts for click chemistry reactions. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2016 |
Description | Press release from publication |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Press release by Diamond Light Source relating to publication which was shared by other media organisations online (Physics.com). Press release aimed to inform wider scientific audience and general public on green production of catalysts with the potential to use waste sources as the feed stock as well as highlight the role played by Diamond Light Source in the research. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
URL | https://www.diamond.ac.uk/Science/Research/Highlights/2018/cu-nanoparticles.html |
Description | Public talk at Pint of Science event in Manchester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk by RK at Manchester Pint of Science event delivered to the general public. Title of talk was 'A Microscopic Green Revolution' and focused on discussing the potential role of microorganisms in helping achieve a circular economy. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
Description | RSC Twitter Conference |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Submitted poster to RSC Twitter Conference. Tweet analytics 24 hours after poster tweet indicate 2,439 impressions, 148 total engagements, 89 poster engagements, 11 retweets, 25 likes. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
Description | School visit, Winchester |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | JRL gave talk to 6th form students at Peter Symonds College, Winchester. Feedback positive ... better engagement with environmental science/geomicrobiology |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
Description | Talk at Manchester Pint of Science |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | Talk at Manchester Pint of Science event to discuss impacts of research with general public. Aim to to raise awareness of dwindling resources and need to develop a circular economy. About 40 people attended the event. Numerous questions were asked by the public in Q&A session after the talk. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |