Advancements and Challenges in Bioelectrochemical Systems for Sustainable Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater.

Songkai Qiu, Ruihao Li, Yu Zhang, Hanbing Zheng, Yuqun Zou, Zhuowei Cheng

Abstract readReview

In one paragraph

Review in Molecules (Basel, Switzerland), 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it

0cells of the map it votes in

0citing papers in PubMed

–field-weighted citation impact

1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Songkai QiuZhejiang Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Control Technology for Industrial Pollution, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Ruihao LiZhejiang Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Control Technology for Industrial Pollution, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Yu ZhangZhejiang Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Control Technology for Industrial Pollution, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Hanbing ZhengZhejiang Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Control Technology for Industrial Pollution, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Yuqun ZouZhejiang Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Control Technology for Industrial Pollution, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Zhuowei ChengZhejiang Key Laboratory of Low-Carbon Control Technology for Industrial Pollution, College of Environment, Zhejiang University of Technology, Hangzhou 310014, China.

Funding

"Pioneer" and "Leading Goose" R&D Program of Zhejiang 2024C03113Zhejiang Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China LQ23B070008

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) for nitrogen removal, which integrate electrochemical processes with biological nitrogen removal technologies, is a sustainable and energy-efficient alternative to conventional biological nitrogen removal methods. However, the practical application of BESs for nitrogen removal remains limited due to technical challenges, and existing reviews have not provided an integrated analysis that systematically links mechanistic understanding, operational optimization, and engineering-scale challenges across multiple BES configurations. Therefore, the mechanisms and performance of main nitrogen removal pathways in BESs are critically summarized and compared within a unified framework. Low nitrogen removal rate and long-term instability are identified as the main challenges. Furthermore, the links between nitrogen removing performance and the key operational parameters, including substrate concentration, applied voltage, electrode materials and microbial interactions are systematically analyzed to reveal their influences and optimization opportunities. Finally, based on this integrated analysis, alternatives are proposed to improve the nitrogen removal rates and stability of BESs for nitrogen removal.

Indexed as

Electrochemical TechniquesNitrogenWastewaterWater Pollutants, ChemicalWater PurificationBioreactorsElectrodesNitrogenWastewaterWater Pollutants, Chemicalbioelectrochemical systemschallengesnitrogen removalwastewater

Identifiers

PMID42197299

DOI10.3390/molecules31101745

PMCPMC13209266

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY

Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.