Membrane Electro Bioreactor for Nitrate Elimination

Nitrate is a health hazard in drinking water. We are developing a simple flow-through membrane elecin which immobilized enzymes catalyze the destruction of nitrate ion into harmless nitrogen gas. Thr(Nitrate Reductase, Nitrite Reductase and Nitrous Oxide Reductase) catalyze the reductions. They wilinside the pores of microporous electrically conductive membranes which serve as electrodes and as menzyme catalysts will be "wired" to the cathode with polymer hydrogels capable of transferring electto the enzymes. In our bioreactor, nitrate solution is pumped through a sandwich of three microporouinsulating filter, and enzyme-immobilized cathode. A DC source powers the electrochemical reduction.will prepare a microporous, electrically conductive membrane so it can receive enzymes and "wires";enzymes; immobilize them on the membrane without denaturing; construct a filter holder with DC voltabioreactor by measuring the change in nitrite concentration in the effluent stream as functions of:concentration, convective flux. In Phase II, we will lower the cost of the enzymes, improve its robuengineering, and control fouling.