The results of the 51st International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva were announced recently. After a rigorous evaluation by an independent international jury, the project “R&D and Application of Microbial Electrochemical BOD Online Monitoring Technology”, developed by Professor Wang Xin’s team from the College of Environmental Science and Engineering at Nankai University, won a Gold Medal. The project stood out among more than 1,400 inventions from 40 countries and regions worldwide.

Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) is a key indicator for assessing water quality and guiding water pollution control. Professor Wang’s team has long focused on the principles and technologies of microbial extracellular electron transfer. The team has achieved a series of breakthroughs in the standardized design of electroactive biofilms, packaging, and data computing models. In collaboration with teams from the College of Artificial Intelligence, the researchers developed the proprietary “Wei Di Ting” series of microbial electrolysis-based BOD sensing devices and rapid early-warning equipment for water quality monitoring. The technology reduces BOD testing time from five days under the national standard method to just hours, while enabling second-level feedback on water quality fluctuations. The system has demonstrated stable operation at wastewater treatment plants across different regions of China, providing a key sensing technology for intelligent wastewater treatment systems and helping ensure their stable operation. The first-generation equipment based on the technology is expected to enter mass production soon.

Founded in 1973, the International Exhibition of Inventions Geneva is jointly organized by the Swiss Federal Government, the Government of the Canton of Geneva, Geneva City Government, and the World Intellectual Property Organization. It is one of the world’s longest-running and largest exhibitions dedicated to inventions.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)