A processing unit comprising: a conditioning cell for treating water containing organic media; an electrochemical separation cell; a cathodic reaction cell in fluid communication with the separation cell; and an anodic reaction cell in fluid communication with the separation cell; wherein the conditioning cell comprises: a cathodic compartment comprising a cathode; and an anodic compartment comprising an anode separated from the first cathodic compartment by a cation selective membrane; wherein in use, the anodic compartment comprises an acid, and the cathodic compartment comprises water, the water comprising organic media; wherein the separation cell is configured to receive an ion-containing first aqueous solution formed from water, which is first passed through the cathodic compartment of the conditioning cell; wherein the separation cell further comprises a cation and an anion selective membrane arranged proximal the cathode and the anode, each forming a permeable wall spanning the separation cell, so that in use only the ion to which the membrane is permeable may pass beyond that point within the cell, so to ensure that the cathodic and anodic products of electrolysis do not recombine and to concentrate them facilitating transfer to the cathodic and anodic reaction cells; and wherein in use the organic media is living or dead biological matter, characterised in that the processing unit further comprises means for applying a current across the conditioning cell for neutralising the negative charges of the biological matter using the hydrogen ions which migrate from the anodic compartment to the cathodic compartment of the conditioning cell. a conditioning cell for treating water containing organic media; an electrochemical separation cell; a cathodic reaction cell in fluid communication with the separation cell; and an anodic reaction cell in fluid communication with the separation cell; wherein the conditioning cell comprises: a cathodic compartment comprising a cathode; and an anodic compartment comprising an anode separated from the first cathodic compartment by a cation selective membrane; wherein in use, the anodic compartment comprises an acid, and the cathodic compartment comprises water, the water comprising organic media; wherein the separation cell is configured to receive an ion-containing first aqueous solution formed from water, which is first passed through the cathodic compartment of the conditioning cell; wherein the separation cell further comprises a cation and an anion selective membrane arranged proximal the cathode and the anode, each forming a permeable wall spanning the separation cell, so that in use only the ion to which the membrane is permeable may pass beyond that point within the cell, so to ensure that the cathodic and anodic products of electrolysis do not recombine and to concentrate them facilitating transfer to the cathodic and anodic reaction cells; and wherein in use the organic media is living or dead biological matter, characterised in that the processing unit further comprises means for applying a current across the conditioning cell for neutralising the negative charges of the biological matter using the hydrogen ions which migrate from the anodic compartment to the cathodic compartment of the conditioning cell. a cathodic compartment comprising a cathode; and an anodic compartment comprising an anode separated from the first cathodic compartment by a cation selective membrane; wherein in use, the anodic compartment comprises an acid, and the cathodic compartment comprises water, the water comprising organic media; wherein the separation cell is configured to receive an ion-containing first aqueous solution formed from water, which is first passed through the cathodic compartment of the conditioning cell; wherein the separation cell further comprises a cation and an anion selective membrane arranged proximal the cathode and the anode, each forming a permeable wall spanning the separation cell, so that in use only the ion to which the membrane is permeable may pass beyond that point within the cell, so to ensure that the cathodic and anodic products of electrolysis do not recombine and to concentrate them facilitating transfer to the cathodic and anodic reaction cells; and wherein in use the organic media is living or dead biological matter, characterised in that the processing unit further comprises means for applying a current across the conditioning cell for neutralising the negative charges of the biological matter using the hydrogen ions which migrate from the anodic compartment to the cathodic compartment of the conditioning cell.