ElectroAD · Novel hybrid electro-anaerobic digestion system for simultaneous antibiotics removal and bioenergy recovery
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2024-08-01 → 2026-07-31
- EU contribution
- €199,694
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-EF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
Novel hybrid electro-anaerobic digestion system for simultaneous antibiotics removal and bioenergy recovery
Antibiotics are now recognised as pollutants of global concern. Their widespread use has led to residues in the environment that contribute to antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major threat to public health and ecosystems. Wastewater treatment plants are hotspots for antibiotic residues and resistance genes, yet conventional anaerobic digestion—though widely used for organic waste treatment and renewable energy recovery—often fails to remove these contaminants. This creates a dual challenge: how to maintain environmental safety while producing clean energy. The project set out to explore a new approach by combining electrochemical stimulation with conductive materials inside an anaerobic reactor. Granular activated carbon (GAC) was used to adsorb antibiotics and to facilitate microbial interactions, while a small electrical current was applied to encourage electroactive microorganisms. By integrating these strategies, the project aimed to enhance methane generation, reduce antibiotic residues, and provide new insights into microbial ecology. The broader ambition was to contribute to EU priorities on the circular economy, renewable energy, and zero pollution, while offering solutions aligned with the Green Deal and the European AMR Action Plan.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
The overuse or misuse of antibiotics has caused new pollution challenges and the development of antibiotic bacteria. Anaerobic digestion (AD) is sustainable biotechnology that can couple waste pollution control and bioenergy methane (CH4) recovery. However, AD fails to achieve satisfactory antibiotic removal due to the low concentration and low biodegradability of antibiotics, and the high toxicity of antibiotics on microbial activity. To address these scientific challenges, in this project, we aim to develop a novel hybrid electro-AD system by coupling the application of external voltage and the addition of activated carbon for the enhancement of antibiotic removal and renewable bioenergy recovery. The novel hybrid electro-AD system will synergistically incorporate high adsorption capacity by activated carbon, high biodegradability of antibiotics by bioelectrochemical reduction, and high methanogenic activity mediated by extracellular electron transfer (EET). An excellent array of multidisciplinary methods incorporating electrochemistry, bioinformatics, and molecular biology will be applied to achieve this objective and unravel underlying mechanisms of enhanced EET and antibiotics removal. The results will further create new knowledge of microbial ecological function in AD and advance the application of anaerobic technology to crucial environmental protection scenarios. Combining my background with the training of advanced instruments offered by the host (Dr. Guangxue Wu at NUI Galway) and expertise in quantifying trace compounds from the secondment (Dr. Konrad Koch at TUM), this project will lead to the realization of new anaerobic biotechnology that can achieve simultaneous energy recovery and efficient antibiotic removal, contributing to scientific, societal, and economic impacts. Being an independent investigator of this project, this fellowship will provide an excellent chance for me to become an independent research group leader in my future career.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101103499
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e517640433&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union