Sustainable Wastewater Treatment and Biohydrogen Production through Microbial Electrochemical Technologies

This research activity focuses on the development of an innovative microbial electrochemical system for the sustainable treatment of organic wastewater and the simultaneous production of biohydrogen. The approach combines advanced bioelectrochemical processes with novel graphene-based electrodes, engineered to provide high electrical conductivity and a favorable microenvironment for the stable growth of electrogenic microorganisms. The system is designed for continuous-flow operation in a modular configuration, with the aim of improving mass transfer, process efficiency and long-term stability while reducing clogging and passivation phenomena. An intelligent monitoring and control system, supported by Artificial Intelligence, is being investigated to optimize key operating parameters in real time, including applied potential, flow rate, pH, temperature and organic load. The overall approach promotes the transition from wastewater treatment to resource recovery, contributing to circular economy principles by simultaneously reducing organic pollution and generating a clean energy carrier. Validation with real wastewater will support the assessment of process performance, hydrogen quality and scalability toward industrial and decentralized applications.