Addressing the world's water challenge: KAUST team develops novel wastewater treatment and reuse technology
KAUST ·
KAUST researchers led by Pascal Saikaly are developing microbial electrochemical technologies (METs) for wastewater treatment and energy recovery. The team combines METs with membrane filtration, creating a hybrid air-biocathode microbial fuel cell-membrane bioreactor (MFC-MBR) for simultaneous wastewater treatment and ultrafiltration. This system uses an electrically conductive ultrafiltration membrane as a biocathode for electricity generation and passive oxygen transfer. Why it matters: This innovation offers a sustainable approach to water reclamation by reducing energy consumption and producing reusable water, which addresses critical water scarcity challenges in the region and globally.