Electro-bioremediation of nitrate and arsenite polluted groundwater

The coexistence of different pollutants in groundwater is a common threat. Sustainable and resilient technologies are required for their treatment. present study aims to evaluate microbial electrochemical (METs) treating contaminated with nitrate (NO3?) while containing arsenic (in form arsenite (As(III)) as co-contaminant. treatment was based on the combination reduction dinitrogen gas oxidation arsenate (exhibiting less toxicity, solubility, mobility), which can be removed more easily further post-treatment. We operated bioelectrochemical reactor at continuous-flow mode synthetic (33 mg N-NO3? L?1 5 As(III) L?1) identifying key operational conditions. Different hydraulic retention times (HRT) were evaluated, reaching maximum rate 519 g m3 Net Cathodic Compartment d?1 HRT 2.3 h cathodic coulombic efficiency around 100 %. Simultaneously, complete all tested down 1.6 an up 90 m?3Net Reactor Volume d -1. Electrochemical microbiological characterization single granules suggested that did not have inhibitory effect denitrifying biocathode mainly represented by Sideroxydans sp. Although abiotic biotic pathways shown likely, linked denitrification Achromobacter most probable pathway. This research paves ground towards real application widespread pollutants.