Chapter 17
Bioelectrochemical Processes
for the Treatment of Oil-Contaminated
Water and Sediments
Matteo Daghio and Andrea Franzetti
Abstract Non-halogenated and halogenated hydrocarbons are widespread toxic
contaminants. Several physicochemical and biological strategies have been developed for the remediation of contaminated environments. The main goal of biological
approaches is to stimulate the microbial activity by overcoming limiting factors such
as the presence of nutrients and/or the presence of electron acceptors/donors.
Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are innovative devices that can be exploited
for the bioremediation of polluted environments. In a BES an electrode can be used
by several groups of bacteria as solid electron acceptor (anode) or donor (cathode)
and the electrons that flow from the anode to the cathode produce an electrical
current. BESs have been successfully applied to remove both non-halogenated and
halogenated hydrocarbons in lab-scale studies. Several advantages can be obtained
using electrodes for the stimulation of the microbial degradation: operational costs
can be potentially decreased, the electrical current generated can be used for the realtime monitoring of the degradation, the potential of the electrode (i.e., electron
acceptor/donor) can be controlled and adapted to the conditions. This chapter
discusses the key aspects linked to the application of bioelectrochemical technologies for the removal of non-halogenated and halogenated hydrocarbons.
Keywords Bioremediation · Bioelectrochemical systems · Chlorinated solvents ·
Hydrocarbons
M. Daghio (*)
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence,
Italy
e-mail: matteo.daghio@unifi.it
A. Franzetti
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_17
373
Bioelectrochemical Processes
for the Treatment of Oil-Contaminated
Water and Sediments
Matteo Daghio and Andrea Franzetti
Abstract Non-halogenated and halogenated hydrocarbons are widespread toxic
contaminants. Several physicochemical and biological strategies have been developed for the remediation of contaminated environments. The main goal of biological
approaches is to stimulate the microbial activity by overcoming limiting factors such
as the presence of nutrients and/or the presence of electron acceptors/donors.
Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are innovative devices that can be exploited
for the bioremediation of polluted environments. In a BES an electrode can be used
by several groups of bacteria as solid electron acceptor (anode) or donor (cathode)
and the electrons that flow from the anode to the cathode produce an electrical
current. BESs have been successfully applied to remove both non-halogenated and
halogenated hydrocarbons in lab-scale studies. Several advantages can be obtained
using electrodes for the stimulation of the microbial degradation: operational costs
can be potentially decreased, the electrical current generated can be used for the realtime monitoring of the degradation, the potential of the electrode (i.e., electron
acceptor/donor) can be controlled and adapted to the conditions. This chapter
discusses the key aspects linked to the application of bioelectrochemical technologies for the removal of non-halogenated and halogenated hydrocarbons.
Keywords Bioremediation · Bioelectrochemical systems · Chlorinated solvents ·
Hydrocarbons
M. Daghio (*)
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
Department of Agriculture, Food, Environment and Forestry, University of Florence, Florence,
Italy
e-mail: matteo.daghio@unifi.it
A. Franzetti
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Milano-Bicocca, Milan, Italy
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
J. Filip et al. (eds.), Advanced Nano-Bio Technologies for Water and Soil Treatment,
Applied Environmental Science and Engineering for a Sustainable Future,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-29840-1_17
373