Periodic Reporting for period 1 - BPEC-DW (Development of novel technology based on a hybrid of bio-photo-electrochemical detritiation light-water for tritium separation and simultaneously H2 generation)
Reporting period: 2022-12-01 to 2025-02-28
Tritium, a radioactive isotope of hydrogen, is a growing environmental concern due to its presence in water discharged from nuclear power plants. Existing technologies for tritium removal are energy-intensive and expensive, resulting in the release of large volumes of tritiated water into the environment. This poses significant long-term risks to ecosystems and human health. Moreover, Tritium is a key fuel for deuterium-tritium fusion reactors but is considered challenging due to its short half-life of 12.3 years. Since tritium is not naturally abundant and must be artificially produced, further research is urgently needed to develop innovative technologies that demonstrate the feasibility of tritium recycling and enrichment.
The BPEC-DW project aims to develop an innovative and energy-efficient solution for the removal of tritium from water while simultaneously producing hydrogen as a clean energy source. BPEC-DW introduces a novel hybrid bio-photo-electrochemical (BPEC) system, combining two complementary processes: (i) Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting process (ii) Microbial isotope fractionation, where specially selected microorganisms preferentially process non-tritiated water, leading to the enrichment and separation of tritium. By integrating these processes into a single system, BPEC-DW seeks to enhance the efficiency of tritium enrichment. This project investigates the interactions between advanced photoactive nanomaterials based on TiO2 and BiVO4 and photosynthesis microorganism that are capable of water splitting, aiming to optimize their combined performance for isotope separation. The overall objective of BPEC-DW is to establish proof of concept for a hybrid bio-PEC process capable of tritium removal from light water while enabling simultaneous hydrogen generation. This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of both PEC technology, which utilizes solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and microbial systems, which selectively process non-tritiated water, concentrating tritium. To achieve this, the project focuses on four specific objectives: (i) Synthesis of novel nanomaterials to enhance PEC water-splitting performance, (ii) Preparation and optimization of different microbes for isotope separation and catalysis H2 generation suitable to be coupled with PEC system, (iii) Design of hybrid bio-PEC system, (iv) Determine the separation efficiency of tritium and hydrogen production by hybrid bio-PEC systems, including elucidation of mechanisms and determination of reaction kinetics.
The BPEC-DW project aligns with key societal, environmental, and industrial priorities, including scientific progress, economic benefits, and sustainable energy. It pioneers the integration of bio-based processes with PEC technology for isotope separation, advancing water treatment and isotope fractionation. The project offers an energy-efficient, cost-effective alternative to conventional tritium removal methods, reducing the environmental impact of tritium-contaminated water. Recovered tritium could also support nuclear fusion reactors, contributing to a closed-loop fuel cycle. Moreover, BPEC-DW aids clean water initiatives, nuclear safety, and public health by preventing tritium contamination of water bodies.
The BPEC-DW project aims to develop an innovative and energy-efficient solution for the removal of tritium from water while simultaneously producing hydrogen as a clean energy source. BPEC-DW introduces a novel hybrid bio-photo-electrochemical (BPEC) system, combining two complementary processes: (i) Photoelectrochemical (PEC) water splitting process (ii) Microbial isotope fractionation, where specially selected microorganisms preferentially process non-tritiated water, leading to the enrichment and separation of tritium. By integrating these processes into a single system, BPEC-DW seeks to enhance the efficiency of tritium enrichment. This project investigates the interactions between advanced photoactive nanomaterials based on TiO2 and BiVO4 and photosynthesis microorganism that are capable of water splitting, aiming to optimize their combined performance for isotope separation. The overall objective of BPEC-DW is to establish proof of concept for a hybrid bio-PEC process capable of tritium removal from light water while enabling simultaneous hydrogen generation. This hybrid approach leverages the strengths of both PEC technology, which utilizes solar energy to split water into hydrogen and oxygen, and microbial systems, which selectively process non-tritiated water, concentrating tritium. To achieve this, the project focuses on four specific objectives: (i) Synthesis of novel nanomaterials to enhance PEC water-splitting performance, (ii) Preparation and optimization of different microbes for isotope separation and catalysis H2 generation suitable to be coupled with PEC system, (iii) Design of hybrid bio-PEC system, (iv) Determine the separation efficiency of tritium and hydrogen production by hybrid bio-PEC systems, including elucidation of mechanisms and determination of reaction kinetics.
The BPEC-DW project aligns with key societal, environmental, and industrial priorities, including scientific progress, economic benefits, and sustainable energy. It pioneers the integration of bio-based processes with PEC technology for isotope separation, advancing water treatment and isotope fractionation. The project offers an energy-efficient, cost-effective alternative to conventional tritium removal methods, reducing the environmental impact of tritium-contaminated water. Recovered tritium could also support nuclear fusion reactors, contributing to a closed-loop fuel cycle. Moreover, BPEC-DW aids clean water initiatives, nuclear safety, and public health by preventing tritium contamination of water bodies.
Work was conducted through six Work Packages (WPs). The project was managed under WP1. In WP2, focused on training and skill development, the fellow participated in various training activities, particularly in the fields of colloid biology and radiochemistry. She gained hands-on experience working with photosynthetic and electroactive microorganisms, inoculating and characterizing them, and evaluating their potential for tritium fractionation. Additionally, she received training in determining tritium activity in liquid (tritiated water) and solid samples (dried biomass) using liquid scintillation analysis. Furthermore, the fellow undertook specialized online training by joining the Tritium School and participated in a short visit to the Leitat Technology Center, which enhanced her expertise in bioelectrochemical processes. She also attended several training workshops on proposal writing, including ERC Starting Grant proposal development, Horizon Europe proposal development, dissemination and open access in Horizon Europe, and project management for European-funded projects. These training sessions strengthened her skills in proposal writing, leading her, as a Principal Investigator, to submit an ERC Starting Grant proposal, two national proposals to the Slovenian Research and Innovation Agency (ARIS), and one proposal under the RSF Innovation Call, programmed by the Jožef Stefan Institute. The fellow also collaborated on two additional proposals submitted to national and international calls. Recently, she successfully secured the prestigious ERC PERSPECTIVE funding to advance novel research at the intersection of semiconductor materials and electroactive microorganisms in bio-photocatalyst hybrids. The Department of Environmental Sciences, being inherently interdisciplinary, encompasses a broad range of research activities as diverse as the environment itself. This unique environment, combined with the fellow's active engagement in multidisciplinary networking, allowed her to collaborate with experts in the field, further strengthening her expertise in environmental sciences. To facilitate knowledge transfer, she collaborated with different research groups where her expertise was needed, such as in the development of bioelectrochemical sensors for methyl mercury detection, engineering biofilms to advance bioelectrochemical systems, and electrodeposition for radionuclide separations. Additionally, she co-mentored a master's student in ecotechnology. In WP3, materials based on TiO2 and BiVO4 were synthesized and characterized to enhance photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-splitting performance. The fellow established a collaboration with the Laboratory for Thin Films at the Ruđer Bošković Institute, focusing on magnetron co-sputtering technique to fabricate heterojunction and doped thin films. The fellow delivered two conference presentations, participated as an invited speaker in one workshop, and has one conference manuscript underway. The results are being prepared for submission to open-access journals in the near future. In WP4, different photosynthetic systems, including cyanobacteria (e.g. Synechococcus elongatus 2973 and Synechococcus leopoliensis 2434) and microalgae (e.g. Chlorella sorokiniana), were inoculated and characterized, and their growth rates in normal and tritiated water were investigated. Moreover, the isotope fractionation capability of photosynthetic systems was analyzed under varying conditions. In WP5, a hybrid bio-photoelectrochemical cell prototype was developed and evaluated for PEC activity. The self-assembly of algae on the surface of BiVO4 and TiO2 was investigated, with findings published in a conference proceeding. Additionally, biofilm was engineered using charged (±) polymers, and its dynamics were studied using fluorescence microscopy. A master's student, co-mentored by the fellow, presented a conference poster on this research.
The BPEC-DW project advances water detritiation by combining bio-based isotope fractionation with photoelectrochemical (PEC) processes. It introduces a novel isotope separation method using microbial biofilms, providing a cost-effective and energy-efficient alternative to traditional electrolysis. The Bio-PEC hybrid system improves redox reaction selectivity, with potential applications in isotope separation beyond nuclear waste management. Solar energy powers the system, reducing costs and environmental impact. Insights into biofilm attachment mechanisms could enhance microbial-PEC integration. Further research is needed to optimize photosynthetic systems and explore microbial isotope fractionation, scalability, stability, and system integration.