WE MET (DTA.AD005.152)

Thematic area

Earth system science and environmental technologies

Project area

Structure responsible for the research project

Water research institute (IRSA)

Project manager

FEDERICO AULENTA
Phone number: 06 90672751
Email: aulenta@irsa.cnr.it

Abstract

MET are innovative systems which combine municipal and industrial wastewater treatment to the generation of useful products such as electrical power (i.e., the MFC) or value-added fuels (i.e., the MEC). In this context, the overall aim of the WE-MET Project is to contribute boosting the transition of MET from laboratory-scale to practical "real-life" application. To accomplish this ambitious objective, WE-MET activities, are organized in 4, interconnected WorkPackages (WPs), as depicted in Figure 3. Specifically, WPs 1-3 will address some of the most pressing scientific and technological challenges of MET (e.g., reactor design and scalability; performance in "real" wastewaters, potential for nutrient removal/recovery) as well as the potential for integration of MET with other technologies (chemical catalysis; anaerobic digestion) to improve the overall process performance and maximize resource recovery. Finally, WP4 will scale-up the most promising technology and will assess its long-term viability through extensive pilot-scale testing and detailed Life Cycle Analysis (LCA). As for this latter aspect, LCA will also allow benchmarking MET against state-of-the art aerobic and anaerob

Start date of activity

01/05/2016

Keywords

Sustainable wastewater treatment, Microbial Electrochemical Technologies, Bioenergy

Last update: 26/08/2025