US 12,304,844 B2
Method for advanced bioelectrochemical treatment of pollutants
Song Jin, Fort Collins, CO (US); Paul H. Fallgren, Fort Collins, CO (US); and Kylan S. Jin, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Assigned to Advanced Environmental Technologies, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed by Advanced Environmental Technologies, LLC, Fort Collins, CO (US)
Filed on Oct. 25, 2018, as Appl. No. 16/171,106.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/576,724, filed on Oct. 25, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2019/0119133 A1, Apr. 25, 2019
Int. Cl. C02F 3/00 (2023.01); C02F 3/10 (2023.01); C02F 3/06 (2023.01)
CPC C02F 3/005 (2013.01) [C02F 3/105 (2013.01); C02F 3/109 (2013.01); C02F 3/06 (2013.01); C02F 2201/009 (2013.01); C02F 2201/4617 (2013.01); C02F 2203/006 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for enhancing biodegradation of contaminants comprising the steps of:
providing a bioelectrochemical contaminant biodegradation system comprising:
an anode within an environmental media having a contaminant;
a microbial population near said anode in said environmental media;
a cathode;
system generated electrons and protons near said anode from oxidation reactions and metabolism reactions of said microbial population with said contaminant; and
a circuit providing a flow of system generated electrons collected from said environmental media near said anode to said cathode;
connecting a photocatalytic device between said anode and said cathode, wherein said photocatalytic device comprises a semi-conducting material;
creating photochemical-reactions in said semi-conducting material by exposing said semi-conducting material to a light source which creates electron-hole pairs by releasing photoelectrons from said semi-conducting material;
directing said photoelectrons released from said semi-conducting material to said cathode;
utilizing said photoelectrons at said cathode by combining said photoelectrons with said protons and oxygen to form water;
filling said electron-hole pairs in said semi-conducting material of said photocatalytic device with said system generated electrons from said anode;
speeding up an electron transfer between said anode to said cathode with said second flow of system generated electrons;
increasing biodegradation of at least some of said contaminant with said sped up electron transfer;
increasing oxidation near said anode; and
generating more of said system generated electrons and protons near said anode to continue said electron transfer between said anode and said cathode.