Abstract
For many years, the world’s coastal marine ecosystems have received industrial waste with high nitrogen concentrations, generating the eutrophication of these ecosystems. Different physicochemical-biological technologies have been developed to remove the nitrogen present in wastewater. However, conventional technologies have high operating costs and excessive production of brines or sludge which compromise the sustainability of the treatment. Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) have begun to gain attention due to their cost-efficiency in removing nitrogen and organic matter using the metabolic capacity of microorganisms. This article combines a critical review of the environmental problems associated with the discharge of the excess nitrogen and the biological processes involved in its biogeochemical cycle; with a comparative analysis of conventional treatment technologies and METs especially designed for nitrogen removal. Finally, current METs limitations and perspectives as a sustainable nitrogen treatment alternative and efficient microbial enrichment techniques are included.
Highlights
Projections have been made, and the results only show that this alteration in the nitrogen deposition rate, which is altering the nitrogen cycle, will continue to increase [4,5]
Microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) are bioelectrochemical devices formed by an anode and a cathode connected through an external circuit, which allows the flow of electrons between the electrodes
The first stage consists of the microbial oxidation of organic and inorganic compounds, managing to transfer electrons to the electrode to fulfill the role of the anode in the system [74]
Summary
The most commonly discussed global problem is climate change, but there is an even more substantial silent problem: nitrogen cycle alteration. Rockström et al [1] proposed nine processes that regulate the Earth system’s stability and resistance, including climate change, entry of novel entities, stratospheric ozone depletion, atmospheric aerosol loading, ocean acidification, freshwater use, land system change, biosphere integrity, and biogeochemical flows of nutrients Within these processes, the most altered process that compromises sustainable development is the biochemical flow of nutrients (i.e., nitrogen and phosphorus). The maximum global annual nitrogen entry rate (i.e., annual nitrogen deposition limit) has been calculated at 35 million tons of nitrogen, and today, the yearly nitrogen deposition is close to 150 million tons [1,3] In this context, projections have been made, and the results only show that this alteration in the nitrogen deposition rate, which is altering the nitrogen cycle, will continue to increase [4,5].
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