DC7
Process design for bioelectrochemical recovery of NH3 and energy from wastewaters

- 01
To upgrade bioelectrochemical NH₃ recovery from the liquid fraction of digestate (from a biogas plant treating sewage sludge), enabling simultaneous energy recovery (as hydrogen) and treatment of the water (removal of organics and nutrients). To define the optimal membrane(s) and best GDE to yield a recovery up to 50 g N/m²·d at liter scale in the most efficient and sustainable manner. To position this technology in the current frame of NH₃ recovery in wastewater treatment plant systems.
- 02
Comparison of different MEC configurations with bioanode for degrading organic contaminants, an abiotic cathode for hydrogen production, and an NH₃ recovery unit. Enhancement of NH₃ recovery involves optimizing anode performance at different N/COD ratios, as well as screening and optimizing membranes.
- 03
That NH₃ recovery rate and efficiency can be improved through material and process optimisation and enhanced energy capture in the form of hydrogen.
- 04
Bioanode degrading organic contaminants from high N-strength liquid streams (digestate from sewage sludge).
- 05
An energy-efficient enhanced MET for NH₃ recovery with improved NH₃ recovery rate and efficiency, establishing the foundations for future scale-up.
- 06
Optimisation of anode performance at different N/COD ratios, identification and optimisation of the best membrane, and overall process efficiency, with particular attention to long term operation and mitigating performance losses during scale-up.
- 07
Tampereen Korkeakoulusaatio (TAU) for anode performance optimisation; LEITAT for membrane identification and optimisation; AERIS for techno-economic analysis of bioelectrochemical NH₃ recovery.
THE SUPERVISORS

Albert Guisasola
Univer Autònoma Barcelona

Zainab Ul Kausar
Univer Autònoma Barcelona

Marika Kokko
Tampere University
THE CANDIDATE
Amin Narimani
I am particularly motivated by the project’s interdisciplinary approach and its potential to support scalable circular economy solutions.




