From Wastewater to Bioproducts: VIVALDI Study Shows Sustainable Ammonium Recovery

A new open-access study featuring results from the VIVALDI project has just been published in the Chemical Engineering Journal (CEJ).

The paper, led by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB)'s team, reports the continuous operation of a three-chamber bioelectrochemical system using VITOCORE Gas Diffusion Electrodes for ammonium recovery from highly loaded wastewaters.

Key highlights include:

High nitrogen recovery rates under targeted conditions (pH and N-salts)
Low energy demand and stable long-term operation (>80 days)
Biocompatibility tested: Recovered ammonium successfully used as a nitrogen source in Komagataella phaffii fermentation, outperforming a commercial source in 3-hydroxypropionic acid production

This work, a collaboration between the project partners UAB and VITO, showcases the impact of VIVALDI research.

Read the full paper here.

Congratulations to all co-authors: Mariella Belén Galeano, Zainab Ul Kausar, David Juan Fernandez Verdejo, Juan Antonio Baeza, Albert Guisasola Canudas, and Deepak Pant for this contribution!