View in EDS

The Rise of Self‐Healing Electrochemical Membrane Bioreactors as a Paradigm Shift in Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: The Rise of Self‐Healing Electrochemical Membrane Bioreactors as a Paradigm Shift in Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery.
Authors: Mkilima, Timoth1 (AUTHOR) tmkilima@gmail.com
Source: Water & Environment Journal. May2026, Vol. 40 Issue 2, p203-223. 21p.
Subjects: Self-healing materials, Membrane reactors, Biological membranes, Electrolytic corrosion, Wastewater treatment, Membrane filter fouling, Sewage purification
Abstract: Wastewater treatment is essential for safeguarding public health, preserving ecosystems and ensuring sustainable water management. Conventional treatment technologies are often hindered by persistent challenges such as membrane fouling, electrode degradation and structural failures, which reduce efficiency and increase operational costs. Electrochemical membrane bioreactors (EMBRs) combine membrane filtration with electrochemical processes to enhance contaminant removal and enable resource recovery, yet their long‐term performance remains constrained by the deterioration of critical components. Self‐healing membranes, although increasingly studied for their autonomous damage repair and fouling resistance in water treatment applications, have not yet been integrated with electrochemical systems. This review introduces the concept of self‐healing electrochemical membrane bioreactors (SH‐EMBRs), highlighting the innovative potential of combining well‐established self‐healing materials with EMBRs. The integrated SH‐EMBR system combines electrochemical contaminant removal with membranes capable of autonomous self‐repair, enabling continuous mitigation of fouling, microcracks and electrode degradation while maintaining consistent filtration efficiency. Summary: This study highlights the innovative integration of self‐healing materials into electrochemical membrane bioreactors (SH‐EMBRs), presenting a novel approach to overcoming persistent issues like fouling, microcracking, and electrode degradation.The proposed SH‐EMBR system enhances operational stability, extends membrane lifespan, and ensures consistent contaminant removal efficiency, marking a significant advancement in sustainable wastewater treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Copyright of Water & Environment Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
Database: Engineering Source
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: egs
DbLabel: Engineering Source
An: 194009223
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: The Rise of Self‐Healing Electrochemical Membrane Bioreactors as a Paradigm Shift in Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery.
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mkilima%2C+Timoth%22">Mkilima, Timoth</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> tmkilima@gmail.com</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Water+%26+Environment+Journal%22">Water & Environment Journal</searchLink>. May2026, Vol. 40 Issue 2, p203-223. 21p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subjects
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Self-healing+materials%22">Self-healing materials</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Membrane+reactors%22">Membrane reactors</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Biological+membranes%22">Biological membranes</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Electrolytic+corrosion%22">Electrolytic corrosion</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Wastewater+treatment%22">Wastewater treatment</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Membrane+filter+fouling%22">Membrane filter fouling</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Sewage+purification%22">Sewage purification</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Wastewater treatment is essential for safeguarding public health, preserving ecosystems and ensuring sustainable water management. Conventional treatment technologies are often hindered by persistent challenges such as membrane fouling, electrode degradation and structural failures, which reduce efficiency and increase operational costs. Electrochemical membrane bioreactors (EMBRs) combine membrane filtration with electrochemical processes to enhance contaminant removal and enable resource recovery, yet their long‐term performance remains constrained by the deterioration of critical components. Self‐healing membranes, although increasingly studied for their autonomous damage repair and fouling resistance in water treatment applications, have not yet been integrated with electrochemical systems. This review introduces the concept of self‐healing electrochemical membrane bioreactors (SH‐EMBRs), highlighting the innovative potential of combining well‐established self‐healing materials with EMBRs. The integrated SH‐EMBR system combines electrochemical contaminant removal with membranes capable of autonomous self‐repair, enabling continuous mitigation of fouling, microcracks and electrode degradation while maintaining consistent filtration efficiency. Summary: This study highlights the innovative integration of self‐healing materials into electrochemical membrane bioreactors (SH‐EMBRs), presenting a novel approach to overcoming persistent issues like fouling, microcracking, and electrode degradation.The proposed SH‐EMBR system enhances operational stability, extends membrane lifespan, and ensures consistent contaminant removal efficiency, marking a significant advancement in sustainable wastewater treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
– Name: AbstractSuppliedCopyright
  Label:
  Group: Ab
  Data: <i>Copyright of Water & Environment Journal is the property of Wiley-Blackwell and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites without the copyright holder's express written permission. Additionally, content may not be used with any artificial intelligence tools or machine learning technologies. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract.</i> (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=egs&AN=194009223
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1111/wej.70026
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 21
        StartPage: 203
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Self-healing materials
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Membrane reactors
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Biological membranes
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Electrolytic corrosion
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Wastewater treatment
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Membrane filter fouling
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Sewage purification
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The Rise of Self‐Healing Electrochemical Membrane Bioreactors as a Paradigm Shift in Wastewater Treatment and Resource Recovery.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Mkilima, Timoth
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Text: May2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 17476585
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 40
            – Type: issue
              Value: 2
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Water & Environment Journal
              Type: main
ResultId 1