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Jiang J, Lopez-Ruiz JA, Bian Y, Sun D, Yan Y, Chen X, Zhu J, May HD, Ren ZJ. Scale-up and techno-economic analysis of microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production from wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 241:120139. [PMID: 37270949 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have demonstrated high-rate H2 production while concurrently treating wastewater, but the transition in scale from laboratory research to systems that can be practically applied has encountered challenges. It has been more than a decade since the first pilot-scale MEC was reported, and in recent years, many attempts have been made to overcome the barriers and move the technology to the market. This study provided a detailed analysis of MEC scale-up efforts and summarized the key factors that should be considered to further develop the technology. We compared the major scale-up configurations and systematically evaluated their performance from both technical and economic perspectives. We characterized how system scale-up impacts the key performance metrics such as volumetric current density and H2 production rate, and we proposed methods to evaluate and optimize system design and fabrication. In addition, preliminary techno-economic analysis indicates that MECs can be profitable in many different market scenarios with or without subsidies. We also provide perspectives on future development needed to transition MEC technology to the marketplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyue Jiang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Juan A Lopez-Ruiz
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Energy and Environment Directorate, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Yanhong Bian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Dongya Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Yuqing Yan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Junjie Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Harold D May
- The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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Neubert K, Hell M, Chávez Morejón M, Harnisch F. Hetero-Coupling of Bio-Based Medium-Chain Carboxylic Acids by Kolbe Electrolysis Enables High Fuel Yield and Efficiency. CHEMSUSCHEM 2022; 15:e202201426. [PMID: 36044593 PMCID: PMC9826165 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202201426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Mixtures of n-carboxylic acids (n-CA) as derived from microbial conversion of waste biomass were converted to bio-fuel using Kolbe electrolysis. While providing full carbon and electron balances, key parameters like electrolysis time, chain length of n-CA, and pH were investigated for their influence on reaction efficiency. Electrolysis of n-hexanoic acid showed the highest coulombic efficiency (CE) of 58.9±16.4 % (n=4) for liquid fuel production among individually tested n-CA. Duration of the electrolysis was varied within a range of 0.27 to 1.02 faraday equivalents without loss of efficiency. Noteworthy, CE increased to around 70 % by hetero-coupling when electrolysing n-CA mixtures regardless of the applied pH. Thus, 1 L of fuel could be produced from 12.4 mol of n-CA mixture using 5.02 kWh (<1 € L-1 ). Thus, a coupling with microbial processes producing n-CA mixtures from different organic substrates and waste is more than promising.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katharina Neubert
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyUFZ – Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental ResearchPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Max Hell
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyUFZ – Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental ResearchPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Micjel Chávez Morejón
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyUFZ – Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental ResearchPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Falk Harnisch
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyUFZ – Helmholtz-Centre for Environmental ResearchPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
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Pichler CM, Bhattacharjee S, Lam E, Su L, Collauto A, Roessler MM, Cobb SJ, Badiani VM, Rahaman M, Reisner E. Bio-Electrocatalytic Conversion of Food Waste to Ethylene via Succinic Acid as the Central Intermediate. ACS Catal 2022; 12:13360-13371. [PMID: 36366764 PMCID: PMC9638992 DOI: 10.1021/acscatal.2c02689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2022] [Revised: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
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Ethylene is an important
feedstock in the chemical industry,
but
currently requires production from fossil resources. The electrocatalytic
oxidative decarboxylation of succinic acid offers in principle an
environmentally friendly route to generate ethylene. Here, a detailed
investigation of the role of different carbon electrode materials
and characteristics revealed that a flat electrode surface and high
ordering of the carbon material are conducive for the reaction. A
range of electrochemical and spectroscopic approaches such as Koutecky–Levich
analysis, rotating ring-disk electrode (RRDE) studies, and Tafel analysis
as well as quantum chemical calculations, electron paramagnetic resonance
(EPR), and in situ infrared (IR) spectroscopy generated
further insights into the mechanism of the overall process. A distinct
reaction intermediate was detected, and the decarboxylation onset
potential was determined to be 2.2–2.3 V versus the reversible
hydrogen electrode (RHE). Following the mechanistic studies and electrode
optimization, a two-step bio-electrochemical process was established
for ethylene production using succinic acid sourced from food waste.
The initial step of this integrated process involves microbial hydrolysis/fermentation
of food waste into aqueous solutions containing succinic acid (0.3
M; 3.75 mmol per g bakery waste). The second step is the electro-oxidation
of the obtained intermediate succinic acid to ethylene using a flow
setup at room temperature, with a productivity of 0.4–1 μmol
ethylene cmelectrode–2 h–1. This approach provides an alternative strategy to produce ethylene
from food waste under ambient conditions using renewable energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian M. Pichler
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
- Institute for Applied Physics, Vienna University of Technology, Wiedner Hauptstraße 8-10, A-1040Vienna, Austria
- Centre of Electrochemistry and Surface Technology, Viktor Kaplan Straße 2, A-2700Wiener Neustadt, Austria
| | - Subhajit Bhattacharjee
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
| | - Erwin Lam
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
| | - Lin Su
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
| | - Alberto Collauto
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Pulse EPR Spectroscopy (PEPR), Imperial College, London Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, LondonW12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Maxie M. Roessler
- Department of Chemistry and Centre for Pulse EPR Spectroscopy (PEPR), Imperial College, London Molecular Sciences Research Hub, White City Campus, Wood Lane, LondonW12 0BZ, U.K
| | - Samuel J. Cobb
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
| | - Vivek M. Badiani
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
| | - Motiar Rahaman
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
| | - Erwin Reisner
- Yusuf Hamied Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Lensfield Road, CB2 1EWCambridge, U.K
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