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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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Ramanaiah SV, Chandrasekhar K, Cordas CM, Potoroko I. Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) for agro-food waste and wastewater treatment, and sustainable bioenergy-A review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 325:121432. [PMID: 36907238 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2022] [Revised: 02/09/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Producing food by farming and subsequent food manufacturing are central to the world's food supply, accounting for more than half of all production. Production is, however, closely related to the creation of large amounts of organic wastes or byproducts (agro-food waste or wastewater) that negatively impact the environment and the climate. Global climate change mitigation is an urgent need that necessitates sustainable development. For that purpose, proper agro-food waste and wastewater management are essential, not only for waste reduction but also for resource optimization. To achieve sustainability in food production, biotechnology is considered as key factor since its continuous development and broad implementation will potentially benefit ecosystems by turning polluting waste into biodegradable materials; this will become more feasible and common as environmentally friendly industrial processes improve. Bioelectrochemical systems are a revitalized, promising biotechnology integrating microorganisms (or enzymes) with multifaceted applications. The technology can efficiently reduce waste and wastewater while recovering energy and chemicals, taking advantage of their biological elements' specific redox processes. In this review, a consolidated description of agro-food waste and wastewater and its remediation possibilities, using different bioelectrochemical-based systems is presented and discussed together with a critical view of the current and future potential applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- S V Ramanaiah
- Food and Biotechnology Research Lab, South Ural State University (National Research University), 454080, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation.
| | - K Chandrasekhar
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro, Seoul, 03722, Republic of Korea
| | - Cristina M Cordas
- Laboratório Associado para a Química Verde | Associated Laboratory for Green Chemistry (LAQV) of the Network of Chemistry and Technology (REQUIMTE), Department of Chemistry, NOVA School of Science and Technology, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, 2829-516, Caparica, Portugal
| | - Irina Potoroko
- Food and Biotechnology Research Lab, South Ural State University (National Research University), 454080, Chelyabinsk, Russian Federation
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3
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Maureira D, Romero O, Illanes A, Wilson L, Ottone C. Industrial bioelectrochemistry for waste valorization: State of the art and challenges. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108123. [PMID: 36868391 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemistry has gained importance in recent years for some of its applications on waste valorization, such as wastewater treatment and carbon dioxide conversion, among others. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the applications of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) for waste valorization in the industry, identifying current limitations and future perspectives of this technology. BESs are classified according to biorefinery concepts into three different categories: (i) waste to power, (ii) waste to fuel and (iii) waste to chemicals. The main issues related to the scalability of bioelectrochemical systems are discussed, such as electrode construction, the addition of redox mediators and the design parameters of the cells. Among the existing BESs, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) stand out as the more advanced technologies in terms of implementation and R&D investment. However, there has been little transfer of such achievements to enzymatic electrochemical systems. It is necessary that enzymatic systems learn from the knowledge reached with MFC and MEC to accelerate their development to achieve competitiveness in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Maureira
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Oscar Romero
- Bioprocess Engineering and Applied Biocatalysis Group, Departament of Chemical, Biological and Enviromental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Spain.
| | - Andrés Illanes
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lorena Wilson
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Carminna Ottone
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile.
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A Review of Biohydrogen Production from Saccharina japonica. FERMENTATION-BASEL 2023. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation9030242] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/06/2023]
Abstract
Saccharina japonica (known as Laminaria japonica or Phaeophyta japonica), one of the largest macroalgae, has been recognized as food and medicine for a long time in some Asian countries, such as China, South Korea, Japan, etc. In recent years, S. japonica has also been considered the most promising third-generation biofuel feedstock to replace fossil fuels, contributing to solving the challenges people face regarding energy and the environment. In particular, S. japonica-derived biohydrogen (H2) is expected to be a major fuel source in the future because of its clean, high-yield, and sustainable properties. Therefore, this review focuses on recent advances in bio-H2 production from S. japonica. The cutting-edge biological technologies with suitable operating parameters to enhance S. japonica’s bio-H2 production efficiency are reviewed based on the Scopus database. In addition, guidelines for future developments in this field are discussed.
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Zhang Q, Wu M, Ailijiang N, Mamat A, Chang J, Pu M, He C. Impact of Voltage Application on Degradation of Biorefractory Pharmaceuticals in an Anaerobic-Aerobic Coupled Upflow Bioelectrochemical Reactor. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15364. [PMID: 36430083 PMCID: PMC9690855 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192215364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/12/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Diclofenac, ibuprofen, and carbamazepine are frequently detected in the environment, where they pose a threat to organisms and ecosystems. We developed anaerobic-aerobic coupled upflow bioelectrochemical reactors (AO-UBERs) with different voltages, hydraulic retention times (HRTs), and types of electrode conversion, and evaluated the ability of the AO-UBERs to remove the three pharmaceuticals. This study showed that when a voltage of 0.6 V was applied, the removal rate of ibuprofen was slightly higher in the system with aerobic cathodic and anaerobic anodic chambers (60.2 ± 11.0%) with HRT of 48 h than in the control systems, and the removal efficiency reached stability faster. Diclofenac removal was 100% in the 1.2 V system with aerobic anodic and anaerobic cathodic chambers, which was greater than in the control system (65.5 ± 2.0%). The contribution of the aerobic cathodic-anodic chambers to the removal of ibuprofen and diclofenac was higher than that of the anaerobic cathodic-anodic chambers. Electrical stimulation barely facilitated the attenuation of carbamazepine. Furthermore, biodegradation-related species (Methyloversatilis, SM1A02, Sporomusa, and Terrimicrobium) were enriched in the AO-UBERs, enhancing pharmaceutical removal. The current study sheds fresh light on the interactions of bacterial populations with the removal of pharmaceuticals in a coupled system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiongfang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Mei Wu
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Nuerla Ailijiang
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Anwar Mamat
- School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Jiali Chang
- Division of Environmental Engineering, School of Chemistry, Resources and Environment, Leshan Normal University, Leshan 614000, China
| | - Miao Pu
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Urumqi 830017, China
| | - Chaoyue He
- Key Laboratory of Oasis Ecology of Education Ministry, College of Ecology and Environment, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830017, China
- Xinjiang Jinghe Observation and Research Station of Temperate Desert Ecosystem, Ministry of Education, Urumqi 830017, China
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Microbial Electrolysis Cell as a Diverse Technology: Overview of Prospective Applications, Advancements, and Challenges. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15072611] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have been explored for various applications, including the removal of industrial pollutants, wastewater treatment chemical synthesis, and biosensing. On the other hand, MEC technology is still in its early stages and faces significant obstacles regarding practical large-scale implementations. MECs are used for energy generation and hydrogen peroxide, methane, hydrogen/biohydrogen production, and pollutant removal. This review aimed to investigate the aforementioned uses in order to better understand the different applications of MECs in the following scenarios: MECs for energy generation and recycling, such as hydrogen, methane, and hydrogen peroxide; contaminant removal, particularly complex organic and inorganic contaminants; and resource recovery. MEC technology was examined in terms of new concepts, configuration optimization, electron transfer pathways in biocathodes, and coupling with other technologies for value-added applications, such as MEC anaerobic digestion, combined MEC–MFC, and others. The goal of the review was to help researchers and engineers understand the most recent developments in MEC technologies and applications.
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Priya AK, Pachaiappan R, Kumar PS, Jalil AA, Vo DVN, Rajendran S. The war using microbes: A sustainable approach for wastewater management. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 275:116598. [PMID: 33581625 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 01/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities and population growth have resulted in a reduced availability of drinking water. To ensure consistency in the existence of drinking water, it is inevitable to establish wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). 70% of India's rural population was found to be without WWTP, waste disposal, and good sanitation. Wastewater has emerged from kitchens, washrooms, etc., with industry activities. This scenario caused severe damage to water resources, leading to degradation of water quality and pathogenic insects. Thus, it is a need of an hour to prompt for better WWTPs for both rural and urban areas. Many parts of the world have started to face severe water shortages in recent years, and wastewater reuse methods need to be updated. Clean water supply is not enough to satisfy the needs of the planet as a whole, and the majority of freshwater in the polar regions takes the form of ice and snow. The increasing population requires clean water for drinks, hygiene, irrigation, and various other applications. Lack of water and contamination of water result from human activities. 90% of wastewater is released to water systems without treatment in developing countries. Studies show that about 730 megatons of waste are annually discharged into water from sewages and other effluents. The sustenance of water resources, applying wastewater treatment technologies, and calling down the percentage of potable water has to be strictly guided by mankind. This review compares the treatment of domestic sewage to its working conditions, energy efficiency, etc. In this review, several treatment methods with different mechanisms involved in waste treatment, industrial effluents, recovery/recycling were discussed. The feasibility of bioaugmentation should eventually be tested through data from field implementation as an important technological challenge, and this analysis identifies many promising areas to be explored in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Priya
- Department of Civil Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, 641027, India
| | - Rekha Pachaiappan
- Department of Sustainable Energy Management, Stella Maris College, Chennai, 600086, Tamilnadu, India
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603 110, India
| | - A A Jalil
- School of Chemical and Energy Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia; Centre of Hydrogen Energy, Institute of Future Energy, 81310, UTM, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
| | - Dai-Viet N Vo
- Center of Excellence for Green Energy and Environmental Nanomaterials (CE@GrEEN), Nguyen Tat Thanh University, 300A Nguyen Tat Thanh, District 4, Ho Chi Minh City, 755414, Viet Nam
| | - Saravanan Rajendran
- Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avda. General Velásquez, 1775, Arica, Chile.
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8
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Roubaud E, Lacroix R, Da Silva S, Esvan J, Etcheverry L, Bergel A, Basséguy R, Erable B. Industrially scalable surface treatments to enhance the current density output from graphite bioanodes fueled by real domestic wastewater. iScience 2021; 24:102162. [PMID: 33665578 PMCID: PMC7907815 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Acid and electrochemical surface treatments of graphite electrode, used individually or in combination, significantly improved the microbial anode current production, by +17% to +56%, in well-regulated and duplicated electroanalytical experimental systems. Of all the consequences induced by surface treatments, the modifications of the surface nano-topography preferentially justify an improvement in the fixation of bacteria, and an increase of the specific surface area and the electrochemically accessible surface of graphite electrodes, which are at the origin of the higher performances of the bioanodes supplied with domestic wastewater. The evolution of the chemical composition and the appearance of C-O, C=O, and O=C-O groups on the graphite surface created by combining acid and electrochemical treatments was prejudicial to the formation of efficient domestic-wastewater-oxidizing bioanodes. The comparative discussion, focused on the positioning of the performances, shows the industrial interest of applying the surface treatment method to the world of bioelectrochemical systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Roubaud
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Rémy Lacroix
- 6T-MIC Ingénieries, 9 rue du développement – ZI de Vic, 31320 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Serge Da Silva
- 6T-MIC Ingénieries, 9 rue du développement – ZI de Vic, 31320 Castanet-Tolosan, France
| | - Jérôme Esvan
- Cirimat, Université de Toulouse, CNRS-INP-UPS, 4 allée Emile MONSO, BP 44362, 31030 Toulouse, France
| | - Luc Etcheverry
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Alain Bergel
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Régine Basséguy
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
| | - Benjamin Erable
- Laboratoire de Génie Chimique, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, INPT, UPS, Toulouse, France
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Salehmin MNI, Lim SS, Satar I, Daud WRW. Pushing microbial desalination cells towards field application: Prevailing challenges, potential mitigation strategies, and future prospects. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 759:143485. [PMID: 33279184 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143485] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2020] [Revised: 10/27/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Microbial desalination cells (MDCs) have been experimentally proven as a versatile bioelectrochemical system (BES). They have the potential to alleviate environmental pollution, reduce water scarcity and save energy and operational costs. However, MDCs alone are inadequate to realise a complete wastewater and desalination treatment at a high-efficiency performance. The assembly of identical MDC units that hydraulically and electrically connected can improve the performance better than standalone MDCs. In the same manner, the coupling of MDCs with other BES or conventional water reclamation technology has also exhibits a promising performance. However, the scaling-up effort has been slowly progressing, leading to a lack of knowledge for guiding MDC technology into practicality. Many challenges remain unsolved and should be mitigated before MDCs can be fully implemented in real applications. Here, we aim to provide a comprehensive chronological-based review that covers technological limitations and mitigation strategies, which have been developed for standalone MDCs. We extend our discussion on how assembled, coupled and scaled-up MDCs have improved in comparison with standalone and lab-scale MDC systems. This review also outlines the prevailing challenges and potential mitigation strategies for scaling-up based on large-scale specifications and evaluates the prospects of selected MDC systems to be integrated with conventional anaerobic digestion (AD) and reverse osmosis (RO). This review offers several recommendations to promote up-scaling studies guided by the pilot scale BES and existing water reclamation technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Swee Su Lim
- Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
| | - Ibdal Satar
- Department of Food Technology, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan (UAD), 55166 Umbulharjo, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Wan Ramli Wan Daud
- Fuel Cell Institute, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia; Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
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Bio-Hydrogen Production from Wastewater: A Comparative Study of Low Energy Intensive Production Processes. CLEAN TECHNOLOGIES 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/cleantechnol3010010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Billions of litres of wastewater are produced daily from domestic and industrial areas, and whilst wastewater is often perceived as a problem, it has the potential to be viewed as a rich source for resources and energy. Wastewater contains between four and five times more energy than is required to treat it, and is a potential source of bio-hydrogen—a clean energy vector, a feedstock chemical and a fuel, widely recognised to have a role in the decarbonisation of the future energy system. This paper investigates sustainable, low-energy intensive routes for hydrogen production from wastewater, critically analysing five technologies, namely photo-fermentation, dark fermentation, photocatalysis, microbial photo electrochemical processes and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The paper compares key parameters influencing H2 production yield, such as pH, temperature and reactor design, summarises the state of the art in each area, and highlights the scale-up technical challenges. In addition to H2 production, these processes can be used for partial wastewater remediation, providing at least 45% reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD), and are suitable for integration into existing wastewater treatment plants. Key advancements in lab-based research are included, highlighting the potential for each technology to contribute to the development of clean energy. Whilst there have been efforts to scale dark fermentation, electro and photo chemical technologies are still at the early stages of development (Technology Readiness Levels below 4); therefore, pilot plants and demonstrators sited at wastewater treatment facilities are needed to assess commercial viability. As such, a multidisciplinary approach is needed to overcome the current barriers to implementation, integrating expertise in engineering, chemistry and microbiology with the commercial experience of both water and energy sectors. The review concludes by highlighting MECs as a promising technology, due to excellent system modularity, good hydrogen yield (3.6–7.9 L/L/d from synthetic wastewater) and the potential to remove up to 80% COD from influent streams.
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11
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Xiang LJ, Dai L, Guo KX, Wen ZH, Ci SQ, Li JH. Microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production. CHINESE J CHEM PHYS 2020. [DOI: 10.1063/1674-0068/cjcp2005075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Li-juan Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Ling Dai
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Ke-xin Guo
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Zhen-hai Wen
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Su-qin Ci
- Key Laboratory of Jiangxi Province for Persistent Pollutants Control and Resources Recycle, Nanchang Hangkong University, Nanchang 330063, China
| | - Jing-hong Li
- Department of Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Bioorganic Phosphorus Chemistry & Chemical Biology, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
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12
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Kim JH, Kim C, Jeon Y, Kim S. Hydrogen Production from Makgeolli Wastewater Using a Single‐Chamber Microbial Electrolysis Cell. B KOREAN CHEM SOC 2019. [DOI: 10.1002/bkcs.11939] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jun Hyun Kim
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 143‐701 South Korea
| | - Changhoon Kim
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 143‐701 South Korea
| | - Yongwon Jeon
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 143‐701 South Korea
| | - Sunghyun Kim
- Department of Bioscience and BiotechnologyKonkuk University Seoul 143‐701 South Korea
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13
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Remediation of Potential Toxic Elements from Wastes and Soils: Analysis and Energy Prospects. SUSTAINABILITY 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/su11123307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study is to evaluate the application of the main hazardous waste management techniques in mining operations and in dumping sites being conscious of the inter-linkages and inter-compartment of the contaminated soils and sediments. For this purpose, a systematic review of the literature on the reduction or elimination of different potential toxic elements was carried out, focusing on As, Cd and Hg as main current contaminant agents. Selected techniques are feasible according to several European countries’ directives, especially in Spain. In the case of arsenic, we verified that there exists a main line that is based on the use of iron minerals and its derivatives. It is important to determine its speciation since As (III) is more toxic and mobile than As (V). For cadmium (II), we observed a certain predominance of the use of biotic techniques, compared to a variety of others. Finally, in mercury case, treatments include a phytoremediation technique using Limnocharis flava and the use of a new natural adsorbent: a modified nanobiocomposite hydrogel. The use of biological treatments is increasingly being studied because they are environmentally friendly, efficient and highly viable in both process and energy terms. The study of techniques for the removal of potential toxic elements should be performed with a focus on the simultaneous removal of several metals, since in nature they do not appear in isolation. Moreover, we found that energy analysis constitutes a limiting factor in relation to the feasibility of these techniques.
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14
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Prado P, Mayen M, Silva G, Duarte I. Using Matlab's wavelet toolbox to compare electric signals outputted by microbial fuel cells. SENSING AND BIO-SENSING RESEARCH 2019. [DOI: 10.1016/j.sbsr.2019.100285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
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15
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Guo H, Kim Y. Stacked multi-electrode design of microbial electrolysis cells for rapid and low-sludge treatment of municipal wastewater. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2019; 12:23. [PMID: 30774711 PMCID: PMC6367776 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-019-1368-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) can be used for energy recovery and sludge reduction in wastewater treatment. Electric current density, which represents the rate of wastewater treatment and H2 production, is not sufficiently high for practical applications of MECs with real wastewater. Here, a sandwiched electrode-stack design was proposed and examined in a continuous-flow MEC system for more than 100 days to demonstrate enhanced electric current generation with a large number of electrode pairs. RESULTS The current density was boosted up to 190 A/m3 or 1.4 A/m2 with 10 electrode pairs stacked in an MEC fed with primary clarifier effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant. High organic loading rate (OLR) resulted in high electric current density. The current density increased from 40 to 190 A/m3 when the OLR increased from 0.5-2 kg-COD/m3/day to 8-16 kg-COD/m3/day. In continuous-flow operation with two stacked MECs in series, the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) removal was 90 ± 2% and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 75 ± 9%. In addition, the sludge production was 0.06 g-volatile suspended solids (VSS)/g-COD removed at a hydraulic retention time of only 0.63 h. The electric energy consumption was low at 0.40 kWh/kg-COD removed (0.058 kWh/m3-wastewater treated). CONCLUSIONS The MECs with the stacked electrode design successfully enhanced the electric current generation. The high OLR is important to maintain the high electric current. The organics were removed rapidly and the total suspended solids (TSS) and VSS were reduced substantially in the continuous-flow MEC system. Therefore, the MECs with the stacked electrode design can be used for the rapid and low-sludge treatment of domestic wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Guo
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., JHE 301, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 Canada
| | - Younggy Kim
- Department of Civil Engineering, McMaster University, 1280 Main St. W., JHE 301, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 Canada
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Judith Martínez E, Blanco D, Gómez X. Two-Stage Process to Enhance Bio-hydrogen Production. BIOFUEL AND BIOREFINERY TECHNOLOGIES 2019. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-030-10516-7_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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17
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Pilot-scale bioelectrochemical system for simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal in urban wastewater treatment plants. J Biosci Bioeng 2018; 126:758-763. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jbiosc.2018.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2017] [Revised: 05/29/2018] [Accepted: 06/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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18
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Reyes-Vidal Y, López-Maldonado J, Castañeda F, Orozco G, Rivera F. Evaluation of Inlet Design and Flow Rate Effect on Current Density Distribution in a Microbial Electrolysis Cell Using Computational Simulation Techniques, Coupling Hydrodynamics and Bioanode Kinetics. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL REACTOR ENGINEERING 2018. [DOI: 10.1515/ijcre-2017-0259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
A theoretical model that describe the effect of design and operational conditions on current density distribution in a bioelectrochemical reactor used as microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is described in this study. This model is proposed considering an approach where a direct electron transfer mechanism from the biofilm to the electrode surface takes place (mechanism present in most of microbial systems) and is governed by a dual donor-acceptor Nernst-Monod bioelectrochemical kinetic expression. The bioelectrochemical reactor is modelled considering two flow electrochemical reactor designs (a reactor design based in literature reports and a modified system proposed by the authors) operating at different flow inlet velocities and electrical overpotentials.
Results obtained from the numerical solution shows that flow distribution is an essential aspect that impact the reactor performance, since concentration profiles and electrical potential-current distributions are strongly dependent on flow regime. Modified inlet configuration displays a more homogeneous fluid distribution and this behavior directly affects the mass transport and current density performance, as a result higher current density values are obtained for such configuration. Finally, it is expected that the information obtained from the analysis carried out in this report will provide us with a theoretical basis to realize the construction of a bioelectrochemical reactor prototype to develop the MEC concept.
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Tartakovsky B, Kleiner Y, Manuel MF. Bioelectrochemical anaerobic sewage treatment technology for Arctic communities. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:32844-32850. [PMID: 28105595 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-017-8390-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2016] [Accepted: 01/04/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
This study describes a novel wastewater treatment technology suitable for small remote northern communities. The technology is based on an enhanced biodegradation of organic carbon through a combination of anaerobic methanogenic and microbial electrochemical (bioelectrochemical) degradation processes leading to biomethane production. The microbial electrochemical degradation is achieved in a membraneless flow-through bioanode-biocathode setup operating at an applied voltage below the water electrolysis threshold. Laboratory wastewater treatment tests conducted through a broad range of mesophilic and psychrophilic temperatures (5-23 °C) using synthetic wastewater showed a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removal efficiency of 90-97% and an effluent BOD5 concentration as low as 7 mg L-1. An electricity consumption of 0.6 kWh kg-1 of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removed was observed. Low energy consumption coupled with enhanced methane production led to a net positive energy balance in the bioelectrochemical treatment system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boris Tartakovsky
- National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Ave, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada.
| | - Yehuda Kleiner
- National Research Council of Canada, 12000 Montreal Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada
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20
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Applications of Emerging Bioelectrochemical Technologies in Agricultural Systems: A Current Review. ENERGIES 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/en11112951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Background: Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are emerging energy-effective and environment-friendly technologies. Different applications of BESs are able to effectively minimize wastes and treat wastewater while simultaneously recovering electricity, biohydrogen and other value-added chemicals via specific redox reactions. Although there are many studies that have greatly advanced the performance of BESs over the last decade, research and reviews on agriculture-relevant applications of BESs are very limited. Considering the increasing demand for food, energy and water due to human population expansion, novel technologies are urgently needed to promote productivity and sustainability in agriculture. Methodology: This review study is based on an extensive literature search regarding agriculture-related BES studies mainly in the last decades (i.e., 2009–2018). The databases used in this review study include Scopus, Google Scholar and Web of Science. The current and future applications of bioelectrochemical technologies in agriculture have been discussed. Findings/Conclusions: BESs have the potential to recover considerable amounts of electric power and energy chemicals from agricultural wastes and wastewater. The recovered energy can be used to reduce the energy input into agricultural systems. Other resources and value-added chemicals such as biofuels, plant nutrients and irrigation water can also be produced in BESs. In addition, BESs may replace unsustainable batteries to power remote sensors or be designed as biosensors for agricultural monitoring. The possible applications to produce food without sunlight and remediate contaminated soils using BESs have also been discussed. At the same time, agricultural wastes can also be processed into construction materials or biochar electrodes/electrocatalysts for reducing the high costs of current BESs. Future studies should evaluate the long-term performance and stability of on-farm BES applications.
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21
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Roubaud E, Lacroix R, Da Silva S, Bergel A, Basséguy R, Erable B. Catalysis of the hydrogen evolution reaction by hydrogen carbonate to decrease the voltage of microbial electrolysis cell fed with domestic wastewater. Electrochim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.04.135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
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22
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Barbosa SG, Peixoto L, Soares OS, Pereira MFR, Heijne AT, Kuntke P, Alves MM, Pereira MA. Influence of carbon anode properties on performance and microbiome of Microbial Electrolysis Cells operated on urine. Electrochim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.02.083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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23
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Hu K, Xu L, Chen W, Jia SQ, Wang W, Han F. Degradation of organics extracted from dewatered sludge by alkaline pretreatment in microbial electrolysis cell. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:8715-8724. [PMID: 29327185 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1213-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Waste activated sludge in China are mostly subjected to dewatering process before final disposal without stabilization. This study investigated the feasibility of organics degradation and H2 production from non-stabilized dewatered sludge (DS) by microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). Alkaline pretreatment was used to disintegrate sludge matrix and solubilize organic matters in DS. Then, the treatment performance of DS supernatant in a single-chamber MEC at various applied voltages was investigated. The COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal rate increased with increasing voltage, which ranged from 26.35 to 44.92% at 0.5-0.9 V. The average coulombic efficiency was 75.6%, while the cathodic hydrogen recovery was not satisfied (15.56-20.05%) with H2 production rates of 0.027-0.038 m3 H2/(m3 day). The reasons could be ascribed to the complexity of the substrate, H2 loss, and the confinement of configuration in scale-up. The organic matter degradation was influenced by the composition of DS. The carbohydrates could be readily used; meanwhile, the major component of the DS supernatant, i.e. proteins, was difficult to be utilized, which resulted from the low biodegradability of the transphilic fractions during the MEC operation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Hu
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China.
| | - Lan Xu
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Chen
- Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuo-Qiu Jia
- College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing, 210098, Jiangsu, People's Republic of China
| | - Wei Wang
- Hydrology and Water Resources Bureau of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Han
- Hydrology and Water Resources Bureau of Henan Province, Zhengzhou, 450000, Henan, People's Republic of China
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Karthikeyan R, Cheng KY, Selvam A, Bose A, Wong JW. Bioelectrohydrogenesis and inhibition of methanogenic activity in microbial electrolysis cells - A review. Biotechnol Adv 2017; 35:758-771. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2017.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2017] [Revised: 06/08/2017] [Accepted: 07/08/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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25
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Hussain A, Lebrun FM, Tartakovsky B. Removal of organic carbon and nitrogen in a membraneless flow-through microbial electrolysis cell. Enzyme Microb Technol 2017; 102:41-48. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2017.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2016] [Revised: 03/29/2017] [Accepted: 03/30/2017] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
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26
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Lewis AJ, Borole AP. Understanding the impact of flow rate and recycle on the conversion of a complex biorefinery stream using a flow-through microbial electrolysis cell. Biochem Eng J 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bej.2016.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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27
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Hussain A, Manuel M, Tartakovsky B. A comparison of simultaneous organic carbon and nitrogen removal in microbial fuel cells and microbial electrolysis cells. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2016; 173:23-33. [PMID: 26950500 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2015] [Revised: 02/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/16/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study demonstrates simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal in laboratory-scale continuous flow microbial fuel cell (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and provides side-by side comparison of these bioelectrochemical systems. The maximum organic carbon removal rates in MFC and MEC tests were similar at 5.1 g L(-1) d(-1) and 4.16 g L(-1) d(-1), respectively, with a near 100% carbon removal efficiency at an organic load of 3.3 g L(-1) d(-1). An ammonium removal efficiency of 30-55% with near-zero nitrite and nitrate concentrations was observed in the MFC operated at an optimal external resistance, while open-circuit MFC operation resulted in a reduced carbon and ammonium removal of 53% and 21%, respectively. In the MEC ammonium removal was limited to 7-12% under anaerobic conditions, while micro-aerobic conditions increased the removal efficiency to 31%. Also, at zero applied voltage both carbon and ammonium removal efficiencies were reduced to 42% and 4%, respectively. Based on the observed performance under different operating conditions, it was concluded that simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal was facilitated by concurrent anaerobic and aerobic biotransformation pathways at the anode and cathode, which balanced bioelectrochemical nitrification and denitrification reactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abid Hussain
- National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Michelle Manuel
- National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada
| | - Boris Tartakovsky
- National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Avenue, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada.
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28
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Liu W, He Z, Yang C, Zhou A, Guo Z, Liang B, Varrone C, Wang AJ. Microbial network for waste activated sludge cascade utilization in an integrated system of microbial electrolysis and anaerobic fermentation. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2016; 9:83. [PMID: 27042212 PMCID: PMC4818858 DOI: 10.1186/s13068-016-0493-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bioelectrochemical systems have been considered a promising novel technology that shows an enhanced energy recovery, as well as generation of value-added products. A number of recent studies suggested that an enhancement of carbon conversion and biogas production can be achieved in an integrated system of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) for waste activated sludge (WAS). Microbial communities in integrated system would build a thorough energetic and metabolic interaction network regarding fermentation communities and electrode respiring communities. The characterization of integrated community structure and community shifts is not well understood, however, it starts to attract interest of scientists and engineers. RESULTS In the present work, energy recovery and WAS conversion are comprehensively affected by typical pretreated biosolid characteristics. We investigated the interaction of fermentation communities and electrode respiring communities in an integrated system of WAS fermentation and MEC for hydrogen recovery. A high energy recovery was achieved in the MECs feeding WAS fermentation liquid through alkaline pretreatment. Some anaerobes belonging to Firmicutes (Acetoanaerobium, Acetobacterium, and Fusibacter) showed synergistic relationship with exoelectrogens in the degradation of complex organic matter or recycling of MEC products (H2). High protein and polysaccharide but low fatty acid content led to the dominance of Proteiniclasticum and Parabacteroides, which showed a delayed contribution to the extracellular electron transport leading to a slow cascade utilization of WAS. CONCLUSIONS Efficient pretreatment could supply more short-chain fatty acids and higher conductivities in the fermentative liquid, which facilitated mass transfer in anodic biofilm. The overall performance of WAS cascade utilization was substantially related to the microbial community structures, which in turn depended on the initial pretreatment to enhance WAS fermentation. It is worth noting that species in AD and MEC communities are able to build complex networks of interaction, which have not been sufficiently studied so far. It is therefore important to understand how choosing operational parameters can influence reactor performances. The current study highlights the interaction of fermentative bacteria and exoelectrogens in the integrated system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzong Liu
- />Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| | - Zhangwei He
- />State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
| | - Chunxue Yang
- />State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
| | - Aijuan Zhou
- />College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024 China
| | - Zechong Guo
- />State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
| | - Bin Liang
- />Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| | - Cristiano Varrone
- />Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Center for BioProcess Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ai-Jie Wang
- />Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
- />State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
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29
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Liu W, He Z, Yang C, Zhou A, Guo Z, Liang B, Varrone C, Wang AJ. Microbial network for waste activated sludge cascade utilization in an integrated system of microbial electrolysis and anaerobic fermentation. BIOTECHNOLOGY FOR BIOFUELS 2016; 9:83. [PMID: 27042212 DOI: 10.1080/17597269.2016.1221302] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2015] [Accepted: 03/22/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Bioelectrochemical systems have been considered a promising novel technology that shows an enhanced energy recovery, as well as generation of value-added products. A number of recent studies suggested that an enhancement of carbon conversion and biogas production can be achieved in an integrated system of microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and anaerobic digestion (AD) for waste activated sludge (WAS). Microbial communities in integrated system would build a thorough energetic and metabolic interaction network regarding fermentation communities and electrode respiring communities. The characterization of integrated community structure and community shifts is not well understood, however, it starts to attract interest of scientists and engineers. RESULTS In the present work, energy recovery and WAS conversion are comprehensively affected by typical pretreated biosolid characteristics. We investigated the interaction of fermentation communities and electrode respiring communities in an integrated system of WAS fermentation and MEC for hydrogen recovery. A high energy recovery was achieved in the MECs feeding WAS fermentation liquid through alkaline pretreatment. Some anaerobes belonging to Firmicutes (Acetoanaerobium, Acetobacterium, and Fusibacter) showed synergistic relationship with exoelectrogens in the degradation of complex organic matter or recycling of MEC products (H2). High protein and polysaccharide but low fatty acid content led to the dominance of Proteiniclasticum and Parabacteroides, which showed a delayed contribution to the extracellular electron transport leading to a slow cascade utilization of WAS. CONCLUSIONS Efficient pretreatment could supply more short-chain fatty acids and higher conductivities in the fermentative liquid, which facilitated mass transfer in anodic biofilm. The overall performance of WAS cascade utilization was substantially related to the microbial community structures, which in turn depended on the initial pretreatment to enhance WAS fermentation. It is worth noting that species in AD and MEC communities are able to build complex networks of interaction, which have not been sufficiently studied so far. It is therefore important to understand how choosing operational parameters can influence reactor performances. The current study highlights the interaction of fermentative bacteria and exoelectrogens in the integrated system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenzong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| | - Zhangwei He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
| | - Chunxue Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
| | - Aijuan Zhou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Taiyuan, 030024 China
| | - Zechong Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
| | - Bin Liang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China
| | - Cristiano Varrone
- Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Center for BioProcess Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ai-Jie Wang
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Biotechnology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100085 China ; State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090 China
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30
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A Review of Modeling Bioelectrochemical Systems: Engineering and Statistical Aspects. ENERGIES 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/en9020111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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31
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Zeng X, Borole AP, Pavlostathis SG. Performance evaluation of a continuous-flow bioanode microbial electrolysis cell fed with furanic and phenolic compounds. RSC Adv 2016. [DOI: 10.1039/c6ra13735k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
An MEC bioanode operated under different continuous-flow conditions converts problematic furanic and phenolic compounds to renewable hydrogen.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zeng
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering
- Georgia Institute of Technology
- Atlanta
- USA
| | - Abhijeet P. Borole
- Biosciences Division
- Oak Ridge National Laboratory
- Oak Ridge
- USA
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education
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32
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Zeng X, Borole AP, Pavlostathis SG. Biotransformation of Furanic and Phenolic Compounds with Hydrogen Gas Production in a Microbial Electrolysis Cell. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:13667-13675. [PMID: 26503792 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.5b02313] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Furanic and phenolic compounds are problematic byproducts resulting from the breakdown of lignocellulosic biomass during biofuel production. The capacity of a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) to produce hydrogen gas (H2) using a mixture of two furanic (furfural, FF; 5-hydroxymethyl furfural, HMF) and three phenolic (syringic acid, SA; vanillic acid, VA; and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid, HBA) compounds as the substrate in the bioanode was assessed. The rate and extent of biotransformation of the five compounds and efficiency of H2 production, as well as the structure of the anode microbial community, were investigated. The five compounds were completely transformed within 7-day batch runs and their biotransformation rate increased with increasing initial concentration. At an initial concentration of 1200 mg/L (8.7 mM) of the mixture of the five compounds, their biotransformation rate ranged from 0.85 to 2.34 mM/d. The anode Coulombic efficiency was 44-69%, which is comparable to that of wastewater-fed MECs. The H2 yield varied from 0.26 to 0.42 g H2-COD/g COD removed in the anode, and the bioanode volume-normalized H2 production rate was 0.07-0.1 L/L-d. The biotransformation of the five compounds took place via fermentation followed by exoelectrogenesis. The major identified fermentation products that did not transform further were catechol and phenol. Acetate was the direct substrate for exoelectrogenesis. Current and H2 production were inhibited at an initial substrate concentration of 1200 mg/L, resulting in acetate accumulation at a much higher level than that measured in other batch runs conducted with a lower initial concentration of the five compounds. The anode microbial community consisted of exoelectrogens, putative degraders of the five compounds, and syntrophic partners of exoelectrogens. The MEC H2 production demonstrated in this study is an alternative to the currently used process of reforming natural gas to supply H2 needed to upgrade bio-oils to stable hydrocarbon fuels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaofei Zeng
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
| | - Abhijeet P Borole
- Biosciences Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831, United States
- Bredesen Center for Interdisciplinary Research and Education, The University of Tennessee , Knoxville, Tennessee 37996, United States
| | - Spyros G Pavlostathis
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology , Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0512, United States
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34
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Escapa A, San-Martín MI, Mateos R, Morán A. Scaling-up of membraneless microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for domestic wastewater treatment: Bottlenecks and limitations. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 180:72-78. [PMID: 25590425 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.12.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/28/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have the potential to become a sustainable domestic wastewater (dWW) treatment system. However, new scale-up experiences are required to gain knowledge of critical issues in MEC designs. In this study we assess the ability of two twin membraneless MEC units (that are part of a modular pilot-scale MEC) to treat dWW. Batch tests yielded COD removal efficiencies as high as 92%, with most of the hydrogen (>80% of the total production) being produced during the first 48h. During the continuous tests, MECs performance deteriorated significantly (energy consumption was relatively high and COD removal efficiencies fell below 10% in many cases), which was attributed to an inadequate configuration of the anodic chamber, insufficient mixing inside this chamber, inefficient hydrogen management on the cathode side and finally to dWW in itself. Some alternatives to the current design are suggested.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Escapa
- Chemical and Environmental Bioprocess Engineering Department, Natural Resources Institute (IRENA), Universidad de León, Av. de Portugal 41, 24071 León, Spain.
| | - M I San-Martín
- Chemical and Environmental Bioprocess Engineering Department, Natural Resources Institute (IRENA), Universidad de León, Av. de Portugal 41, 24071 León, Spain
| | - R Mateos
- Chemical and Environmental Bioprocess Engineering Department, Natural Resources Institute (IRENA), Universidad de León, Av. de Portugal 41, 24071 León, Spain
| | - A Morán
- Chemical and Environmental Bioprocess Engineering Department, Natural Resources Institute (IRENA), Universidad de León, Av. de Portugal 41, 24071 León, Spain
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Montpart N, Rago L, Baeza JA, Guisasola A. Hydrogen production in single chamber microbial electrolysis cells with different complex substrates. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 68:601-615. [PMID: 25462766 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2014.10.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 10/09/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The use of synthetic wastewater containing carbon sources of different complexity (glycerol, milk and starch) was evaluated in single chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for hydrogen production. The growth of an anodic syntrophic consortium between fermentative and anode respiring bacteria was operationally enhanced and increased the opportunities of these complex substrates to be treated with this technology. During inoculation, current intensities achieved in single chamber microbial fuel cells were 50, 62.5, and 9 A m⁻³ for glycerol, milk and starch respectively. Both current intensities and coulombic efficiencies were higher than other values reported in previous works. The simultaneous degradation of the three complex substrates favored power production and COD removal. After three months in MEC operation, hydrogen production was only sustained with milk as a single substrate and with the simultaneous degradation of the three substrates. The later had the best results in terms of current intensity (150 A m⁻³), hydrogen production (0.94 m³ m⁻³ d⁻¹) and cathodic gas recovery (91%) at an applied voltage of 0.8 V. Glycerol and starch as substrates in MEC could not avoid the complete proliferation of hydrogen scavengers, even under low hydrogen retention time conditions induced by continuous nitrogen sparging.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Montpart
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra, Barcelona, Spain
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Ichihashi O, Vishnivetskaya TA, Borole AP. High-Performance Bioanode Development for Fermentable Substrates via Controlled Electroactive Biofilm Growth. ChemElectroChem 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.201402206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
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Koch C, Popiel D, Harnisch F. Functional Redundancy of Microbial Anodes fed by Domestic Wastewater. ChemElectroChem 2014. [DOI: 10.1002/celc.201402216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
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Shoener BD, Bradley IM, Cusick RD, Guest JS. Energy positive domestic wastewater treatment: the roles of anaerobic and phototrophic technologies. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2014; 16:1204-1222. [PMID: 24671159 DOI: 10.1039/c3em00711a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
The negative energy balance of wastewater treatment could be reversed if anaerobic technologies were implemented for organic carbon oxidation and phototrophic technologies were utilized for nutrient recovery. To characterize the potential for energy positive wastewater treatment by anaerobic and phototrophic biotechnologies we performed a comprehensive literature review and analysis, focusing on energy production (as kJ per capita per day and as kJ m(-3) of wastewater treated), energy consumption, and treatment efficacy. Anaerobic technologies included in this review were the anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR), anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR), anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFB), upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), anaerobic sequencing batch reactor (ASBR), microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), and microbial fuel cell (MFC). Phototrophic technologies included were the high rate algal pond (HRAP), photobioreactor (PBR), stirred tank reactor, waste stabilization pond (WSP), and algal turf scrubber (ATS). Average energy recovery efficiencies for anaerobic technologies ranged from 1.6% (MFC) to 47.5% (ABR). When including typical percent chemical oxygen demand (COD) removals by each technology, this range would equate to roughly 40-1200 kJ per capita per day or 110-3300 kJ m(-3) of treated wastewater. The average bioenergy feedstock production by phototrophic technologies ranged from 1200-4700 kJ per capita per day or 3400-13 000 kJ m(-3) (exceeding anaerobic technologies and, at times, the energetic content of the influent organic carbon), with usable energy production dependent upon downstream conversion to fuels. Energy consumption analysis showed that energy positive anaerobic wastewater treatment by emerging technologies would require significant reductions of parasitic losses from mechanical mixing and gas sparging. Technology targets and critical barriers for energy-producing technologies are identified, and the role of integrated anaerobic and phototrophic bioprocesses in energy positive wastewater management is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- B D Shoener
- University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign - Civil & Environmental Engineering, 205 N. Mathews Avenue 3221 Newmark Civil Engineering Lab, Urbana, Illinois 61801, USA.
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Commault AS, Lear G, Packer MA, Weld RJ. Influence of anode potentials on selection of Geobacter strains in microbial electrolysis cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 139:226-234. [PMID: 23665518 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.04.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2013] [Revised: 04/12/2013] [Accepted: 04/12/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Through their ability to directly transfer electrons to electrodes, Geobacter sp. are key organisms for microbial fuel cell technology. This study presents a simple method to reproducibly select Geobacter-dominated anode biofilms from a mixed inoculum of bacteria using graphite electrodes initially poised at -0.25, -0.36 and -0.42 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The biofilms all produced maximum power density of approximately 270 m Wm(-2) (projected anode surface area). Analysis of 16S rRNA genes and intergenic spacer (ITS) sequences found that the biofilm communities were all dominated by bacteria closely related to Geobacter psychrophilus. Anodes initially poised at -0.25 V reproducibly selected biofilms that were dominated by a strain of G. psychrophilus that was genetically distinct from the strain that dominated the -0.36 and -0.42 V biofilms. This work demonstrates for the first time that closely related strains of Geobacter can have very different competitive advantages at different anode potentials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey S Commault
- Lincoln Agritech Ltd., Lincoln University, P.O. Box 133, Christchurch 7640, New Zealand.
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Gil-Carrera L, Escapa A, Moreno R, Morán A. Reduced energy consumption during low strength domestic wastewater treatment in a semi-pilot tubular microbial electrolysis cell. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2013; 122:1-7. [PMID: 23524371 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2013.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2012] [Revised: 02/28/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
The present study examines the effect of the organic loading rate and the configuration of a semi-pilot modular microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) on the energy consumption during domestic (dWW) wastewater treatment. The MEC reactor consisted of twin tubular units hydraulically connected in series and was able to reduce up to 85% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of the influent dWW at a relatively low energy consumption (1.6 kW h kg-COD(-1)). Hydrogen production was limited by the reduced amounts of organic matter fed into the reactor and the poor performance of the cathode. Overall, the results identified both an organic loading rate (OLR) threshold that makes the use of MECs for dWW treatment feasible in terms of energy consumption and COD removal efficiency and an OLR threshold that justifies the operation of two MECs in series to provide the required degree of COD removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gil-Carrera
- Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department, Natural Resources Institute (IRENA), University of Leon, Leon 24009, Spain
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Gil-Carrera L, Escapa A, Mehta P, Santoyo G, Guiot SR, Morán A, Tartakovsky B. Microbial electrolysis cell scale-up for combined wastewater treatment and hydrogen production. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 130:584-591. [PMID: 23334014 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Revised: 12/07/2012] [Accepted: 12/09/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
This study demonstrates microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) scale-up from a 50mL to a 10L cell. Initially, a 50mL membraneless MEC with a gas diffusion cathode was operated on synthetic wastewater at different organic loads. It was concluded that process scale-up might be best accomplished using a "reactor-in-series" concept. Consequently, 855mL and 10L MECs were built and operated. By optimizing the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the 855mL MEC and individually controlling the applied voltages of three anodic compartments with a real-time optimization algorithm, a COD removal of 5.7g L(R)(-1)d(-1) and a hydrogen production of 1.0-2.6L L(R)(-1)d(-1) was achieved. Furthermore, a two MECs in series 10L setup was constructed and operated on municipal wastewater. This test showed a COD removal rate of 0.5g L(R)(-1)d(-1), a removal efficiency of 60-76%, and an energy consumption of 0.9Whperg of COD removed.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Gil-Carrera
- Chemical Engineering Department, University of León, IRENA-ESTIA, Avda. de Portugal 41, León 24009, Spain
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