Abstract: There is provided a biosensor for detecting water contaminants. The biosensor has a microbial fuel cell compartment, having (i) at least one opening to allow water into and out of the microbial fuel cell compartment, (ii) an anode comprising electroactive microorganisms, and (iii) a cathode. The anode is electrically and physically separated from the cathode. The anode is anaerobic and comprises electroactive microorganisms. The cathode is aerobic.

Abstract: A technique for wastewater treatment involves ensuring that all paths for wastewater must pass through at least one porous microbial support to go from the inlet to the outlet, and allowing a biofilm to grow on the porous microbial support under microaerobic conditions (concentration of oxygen between 0.05 and 0.35 mg/L). The biofilm formed comprises a population of anaerobic microbes for digesting organics in the wastewater including methanogenic microbes, and an aerobic methanotrophic and heterotrophic population that catabolizes methane from the methanogenic microbes, and oxygen from the injector, to produce heat. The support may be an electrode, and the technique is applied in a microbial electrolysis cell, with substantial COD removal rates.

Abstract: A technique for wastewater treatment involves ensuring that all paths for wastewater must pass through at least one porous microbial support to go from the inlet to the outlet, and allowing a biofilm to grow on the porous microbial support under microaerobic conditions (concentration of oxygen between 0.05 and 0.35 mg/L). The biofilm formed comprises a population of anaerobic microbes for digesting organics in the wastewater including methanogenic microbes, and an aerobic methanotrophic and heterotrophic population that catabolizes methane from the methanogenic microbes, and oxygen from the injector, to produce heat. The support may be an electrode, and the technique is applied in a microbial electrolysis cell, with substantial COD removal rates.