Performance of a Novel Worm-Assisted Membrane Bioelectrochemical System: Electricity Recovery, Sludge Reduction, and Membrane Fouling Mitigation.

ABSTRACT: This study developed a novel worm-assisted membrane bioelectrochemical reactor (W-MBER) that integrates aquatic worms and a single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cell into a membrane bioreactor (MBR) to address challenges in energy recovery, sludge reduction, and membrane fouling. The system achieved a stable output of 290 mV at an external resistance of 250 Ω and a maximum power density of 0.013 W/m² while maintaining high removal efficiencies for chemical oxygen demand (93.57%) and ammonia nitrogen (98.61%). Furthermore, the TN removal efficiency was 12.93% higher than that in the conventional MBR (C-MBR), attributed to the anodic anoxic microenvironment. The synergy of worm predation and the bioelectrochemical process reduced sludge production by 28.51% and extended the filt

SUBMITTER: Ding C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12844489 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature