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Design and development of unconventional catalytic conversion processes using electrons, photons, and microorganisms


    Problem Statement

    Our long-term commitment to sustainability and a circular carbon economy involves unconventional catalytic conversion processes. We study various processes assisted by electrons, photons, or microorganisms to produce biofuels, chemicals, electricity, or treated water. For example, bio-electro-chemical systems, including microbial fuel cells (MFCs), electrolysis cells (MECs), and photo-assisted cells (PA-MECs), are promising technologies to simultaneously produce renewable energy and clean wastewater using active microorganisms as biocatalysts.

    Our work aims to synthesize multi-functional catalysts and reactors to enhance electrical conductivity, photo-efficiency, microbiological affinity, porosity, hydrophilicity, and surface area for carbonaceous electrodes. We work with materials such as graphene oxide, metallic nanoparticles, nitride and carbide basic materials, and MXenes.

    We consider new platform technologies to produce renewable biofuel and chemicals and treat wastewater using the nanotechnology and reaction engineering approach as an innovative combination to increase the productivity of these processes.

    EPB

    Goals

    • Develop and scale up electro-photo-bio-catalyst and -reactors
    • Propose novel processes to clean wastewater and produce electricity, chemicals, and bio-hydrogen
    • Model and simulate fuel cell performance
    • Use innovative catalysts (anode and cathode material) and reactor designs to improve fuel cell performance

    Related People

    Hend Omar Mohamed
    Muhammad Arief Shafarifky
    Pewee Datoo Kolubah

    Related Publications

    Rational design of cylindrical microbial electrolysis cells for high-strength wastewater treatment and scalable hydrogen production

    by Hussien, Mohamed, Bahaa, Jadhav, Jo, Jang, Kim, Abdelkareem, Castaño, Chae
    Chem. Eng. J. Year: 2025 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2025.167285

    Abstract

    A novel cylindrical microbial electrolysis cell (CMEC) featuring a compact, coaxial electrode assembly was developed to convert high-strength dark-fermentation effluent into high-purity hydrogen, addressing key scale-up challenges in bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment. The CMEC's optimized cylindrical geometry and high electrode surface-to-volume ratio (41.6 m2 m−3) enhanced fluid dynamics and mass transfer, yielding a peak current density of 4.5 A m−2 and cathodic hydrogen recovery (rcat) of 97.3 %. Under an applied voltage of 1.0 V, the system achieved a hydrogen production rate of 0.84 L L−1 d−1 with 99.8 % purity, alongside a chemical oxygen demand removal efficiency of 67.5 % and coulombic efficiency of 75.1 %. Techno-economic analysis, based on local electricity ($0.0137 kWh−1) and hydrogen ($1.60 kg−1) prices, yielded a profitability ratio of 1.331, demonstrating economic viability. Using volatile fatty acid-rich effluent derived from swine manure–food waste dark fermentation, the CMEC maintained stable operation and high biofilm activity, effectively suppressing methanogenesis. These results highlight the CMEC's potential for scalable, cost-effective biohydrogen production from real waste streams, bridging laboratory prototypes and industrial applications in sustainable energy and wastewater management.

     

    Keywords

    EPB CRE