Pilot study of specific microbe immobilization cells (SMICs) technology in removing tetramethyl ammonium hydroxide for reuse of low-strength electronics wastewater.

•Almost complete removal of TMAH by specific microorganism entrapped into pellet.•Superior removals of TOC as well as TMAH in SMIC process to BAC process.•Viability of entrapped microorganism during pilot test period was confirmed.•SMIC process was cost-effective than BAC process according to economic analysis.