SMERS - sediment microbial electrochemial remediation systems

Microbial electrochemical remediation systems (MERS) have recently emerged as a green technology for the effective remediation of PH contaminants coupled with simultaneous energy recovery. In our study, we demonstrate the enhanced removal of DRH compounds in different zones of sediment MERS (SMERS) compared to the open circuit and biotic controls (NON MERS). SMERS was established by inserting electrodes in sediments containing two different spiked concentrations of DRH (5000 mg/Kg, 10000 mg/Kg of sediment). Gas chromatography fingerprints analysis revealed that DRH degradation in closed circuits was accelerated compared to the open circuit conditions. DRH degradation was positively correlated with the increased percentage of COD removal under the closed circuit conditions at each zone. The behaviour of SMERS at a higher concentration of DRH (10000 mg/Kg) was also investigated. Further, community profiling studies using Miseq illumina sequencing outlined the microbial community structure at each zone of the SMERS with different DRH concentrations. These findings suggest that MERS technology could be applicable for the sustainable remediation of PH contaminated