Turning Wastewater into Renewable Hydrogen: New Study Highlights VIVALDI Innovations

The VIVALDI H2020 project, which concluded in June 2025, continues to deliver scientific impact. A new open-access study published in Bioresource Technology, “High-rate ammonium removal and recovery and hydrogen production from wastewater using microbial electrolysis cell”, showcases key results developed within the project.

The research demonstrates the potential of Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) as an integrated solution for wastewater treatment, nutrient recovery, and renewable hydrogen production. By efficiently removing and recovering ammonium from wastewater while generating clean energy, MECs offer a practical step toward circular and sustainable wastewater management.

Key outcomes include:

• NH₄⁺ removal and recovery rates of 69.8 and 37.9 gN m⁻² d⁻¹

• Hydrogen production of 1557.6 L H₂ m⁻³ d⁻¹, with energy efficiency of 31.4 ± 2.9 kWh kg⁻¹ H₂

• Wastewater treatment capacity of 1.2 kg COD m⁻³ d⁻¹, with an energy efficiency of 0.11 kWh kg⁻¹ COD

These results underline the role of MEC technology in turning wastewater into a resource, supporting both nutrient recovery and clean energy generation — a tangible contribution to Europe’s circular economy and sustainability goals.

The VIVALDI consortium congratulates the authors Jorge Luque Rueda, Pau Bosch, Marti Aliaguilla, Daniele Molognoni and Eduard Borràs for making this research possible.

Read the full open-access article here.