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Ul Z, Sulonen M, Baeza JA, Guisasola A. Continuous high-purity bioelectrochemical nitrogen recovery from high N-loaded wastewaters. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 158:108707. [PMID: 38653107 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108707] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Revised: 04/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
Microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) have been identified as an energy efficient system for ammonium recovery from wastewater. However, high ammonium concentrations at the anode can have inhibitory effects. This work aims to determine the effects on current generation performance and active ammonia nitrogen recovery in wastewater containing 0.5 to 2.5 g N-NH4+/L. The study also evaluates the effect of two cathode materials, stainless steel (SS-MEC) and nickel foam (NF-MEC). When the concentration of ammonium in the feed was increased from 0.5 to 1.5 g N-NH4+/L the maximum current density increased from 3.2 to 3.9 A/m2, but a further increase to 2.5 g N-NH4+/L inhibited the biofilm activity, decreasing the current density to 0.5 A/m2. The maximum ammonium removal and recovery efficiencies were 71 % and 33 % at 0.5 g N-NH4+/L. The SS-MEC exhibited more energy efficient ammonium recovery compared to the NF-MEC, requiring 3.6 kWh/kgN,recovered at 0.5 gN-NH4+/L. The highest ammonium recovery rate of 33 gN/m2/d (1.5 gN-NH4+/L) was obtained with an energy consumption of 4.5 kWh/kgN,recovered. Conversely, a lower recovery rate (10 gN/m2/d for 2.5 gN-NH4+/L) resulted in reduced energy consumption at 2.1 kWh/kgN,recovered. This highlights the inherent trade-off between energy consumption and efficient ammonium recovery in the process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zainab Ul
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mira Sulonen
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Juan Antonio Baeza
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Albert Guisasola
- GENOCOV, Departament d'Enginyeria Química, Biològica i Ambiental, Escola d'Enginyeria, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193 Bellaterra (Cerdanyola del Vallès), Barcelona, Spain
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Olmsted CN, Ort R, Tran PQ, McDaniel EA, Roden EE, Bond DR, He S, McMahon KD. Environmental predictors of electroactive bacterioplankton in small boreal lakes. Environ Microbiol 2023; 25:705-720. [PMID: 36529539 DOI: 10.1111/1462-2920.16314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2022] [Accepted: 12/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular electron transfer (EET) by electroactive bacteria in anoxic soils and sediments is an intensively researched subject, but EET's function in planktonic ecology has been less considered. Following the discovery of an unexpectedly high prevalence of EET genes in a bog lake's bacterioplankton, we hypothesized that the redox capacities of dissolved organic matter (DOM) enrich for electroactive bacteria by mediating redox chemistry. We developed the bioinformatics pipeline FEET (Find EET) to identify and summarize predicted EET protein-encoding genes from metagenomics data. We then applied FEET to 36 bog and thermokarst lakes and correlated gene occurrence with environmental data to test our predictions. Our results provide indirect evidence that DOM may participate in bacterioplankton EET. We found a similarly high prevalence of genes encoding putative EET proteins in most of these lakes, where oxidative EET strongly correlated with DOM. Numerous novel clusters of multiheme cytochromes that may enable EET were identified. Taxa previously not considered EET-capable were found to carry EET genes. We propose that EET and DOM interactions are of ecologically important to bacterioplankton in small boreal lakes, and that EET, particularly by methylotrophs and anoxygenic phototrophs, should be further studied and incorporated into methane emission models of melting permafrost.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles N Olmsted
- Department of Molecular and Environmental Toxicology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Trout Lake Station, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Boulder, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Roger Ort
- Trout Lake Station, Center for Limnology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Boulder, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Patricia Q Tran
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Elizabeth A McDaniel
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Microbiology Doctoral Training Program, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Eric E Roden
- Department of Geoscience, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Daniel R Bond
- Department of Plant and Microbial Biology and BioTechnology Institute, University of Minnesota, St. Paul, Minnesota, USA
| | - Shaomei He
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Katherine D McMahon
- Department of Bacteriology, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Wisconsin - Madison, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
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Cerrillo M, Riau V, Bonmatí A. Recent Advances in Bioelectrochemical Systems for Nitrogen and Phosphorus Recovery Using Membranes. MEMBRANES 2023; 13:186. [PMID: 36837689 PMCID: PMC9966522 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13020186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2022] [Revised: 01/09/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have emerged as a technology that is able to recover resources from different kinds of substrates, especially wastewater. Nutrient recovery, mostly based on membrane reactor configuration, is a clear niche for BES application. The recovery of nitrogen or phosphorus allows for treatment of wastewater while simultaneously collecting a concentrated stream with nutrients that can be reintroduced into the system, becoming a circular economy solution. The aim of this study is to review recent advances in membrane-based BESs for nitrogen and phosphorus recovery and compare the recovery efficiencies and energy requirements of each system. Finally, there is a discussion of the main issues that arise from using membrane-based BESs. The results presented in this review show that it would be beneficial to intensify research on BESs to improve recovery efficiencies at the lowest construction cost in order to take the final step towards scaling up and commercialising this technology.
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Al-Juboori RA, Al-Shaeli M, Aani SA, Johnson D, Hilal N. Membrane Technologies for Nitrogen Recovery from Waste Streams: Scientometrics and Technical Analysis. MEMBRANES 2022; 13:15. [PMID: 36676822 PMCID: PMC9864344 DOI: 10.3390/membranes13010015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2022] [Revised: 12/19/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
The concerns regarding the reactive nitrogen levels exceeding the planetary limits are well documented in the literature. A large portion of anthropogenic nitrogen ends in wastewater. Nitrogen removal in typical wastewater treatment processes consumes a considerable amount of energy. Nitrogen recovery can help in saving energy and meeting the regulatory discharge limits. This has motivated researchers and industry professionals alike to devise effective nitrogen recovery systems. Membrane technologies form a fundamental part of these systems. This work presents a thorough overview of the subject using scientometric analysis and presents an evaluation of membrane technologies guided by literature findings. The focus of nitrogen recovery research has shifted over time from nutrient concentration to the production of marketable products using improved membrane materials and designs. A practical approach for selecting hybrid systems based on the recovery goals has been proposed. A comparison between membrane technologies in terms of energy requirements, recovery efficiency, and process scale showed that gas permeable membrane (GPM) and its combination with other technologies are the most promising recovery techniques and they merit further industry attention and investment. Recommendations for potential future search trends based on industry and end users' needs have also been proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raed A. Al-Juboori
- NYUAD Water Research Centre, New York University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Muayad Al-Shaeli
- Department of Engineering, University of Luxembourg, 2, Avenue de l’Université, L-4365 Esch-sur-Alzette, Luxembourg
| | - Saif Al Aani
- The State Company of Energy Production-Middle Region, Ministry of Electricity, Baghdad 10013, Iraq
| | - Daniel Johnson
- NYUAD Water Research Centre, New York University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nidal Hilal
- NYUAD Water Research Centre, New York University, Abu Dhabi Campus, Abu Dhabi P.O. Box 129188, United Arab Emirates
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Koskue V, Pyrhönen VP, Freguia S, Ledezma P, Kokko M. Modelling and techno-economic assessment of (bio)electrochemical nitrogen removal and recovery from reject water at full WWTP scale. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2022; 319:115747. [PMID: 35849924 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.115747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Revised: 06/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/10/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
At conventional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), reject waters originating from the dewatering of anaerobically digested sludge contain the highest nitrogen concentrations within the plant and thereby have potential for realising nitrogen recovery in a reusable form. At the same time, nitrogen removal from reject waters has potential to reduce the energetic and chemical demands of the WWTP due to a reduced nutrient load to the activated sludge process. In recent years, (bio)electrochemical methods have been extensively studied for nitrogen recovery from reject waters in laboratory-scale but not yet implemented in real WWTP environments, particularly due to concerns about the need for large capital investments. This study assessed the techno-economic feasibility of retrofitting a (bio)electrochemical nitrogen removal and recovery (NRR) unit into the reject water circulation line of a full-scale WWTP through modelling. Data from laboratory-scale (bio)electroconcentration ((B)EC) experiments was used to construct a simple, semi-empirical model block integrated into the Benchmark Simulation Model No. 2 (BSM2) simulating a generalised WWTP. The effects of nitrogen removal from the reject water on both the effluent quality and operational costs of the WWTP were assessed and compared to the BSM2 performance without an NRR unit. In all studied scenarios, the effluent quality index was improved by 4-11%, while both the aeration (7-19% decrease) and carbon (24-71%) requirements were reduced. The additional energy consumed by the NRR unit increased the total operational cost index by >18%, but the revenue assumed for the generated nutrient product (20 EUR kgN-1) was enough to make the BEC-NRR scenarios at realistically low current densities (1 and 5 A m-2) economically attractive compared to the control. A sensitivity analysis revealed that electricity price and nutrient product value had the most notable effects on the feasibility of the NRR unit. The results suggest a key factor in making (bio)electrochemical NRR economically viable is to reduce its electricity consumption further, while the anticipated increases in nitrogen fertiliser prices can help accelerate the adoption of these methods in larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veera Koskue
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720 Tampere, Finland.
| | - Veli-Pekka Pyrhönen
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720 Tampere, Finland
| | - Stefano Freguia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, The University of Melbourne, Grattan Street, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Pablo Ledezma
- Australian Centre for Water and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Queensland, Gehrmann Laboratories Building (60), Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marika Kokko
- Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, Tampere University, Korkeakoulunkatu 8, 33720 Tampere, Finland
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Analysis of Reject Water Formed in the Mechanical Dewatering Process of Digested Sludge Conditioned by Physical and Chemical Methods. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15051678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Reject water separated from digested sludge may be a potential source of nutrients due to its high content. However, most often, reject water after sludge dewatering is directed to sewage lines at wastewater treatment plants, negatively affecting their operation, especially in the biological part. The activities related to sludge conditioning before dewatering have a direct impact on the quality of the reject water. The reject water of raw digested sludge is characterized by very high concentrations of ammonium nitrogen, at 1718 mgN-NH4+/dm3; phosphates, at 122.4 mgPO43−/dm3; and chemical oxygen demand (COD), at 2240 mgO2/dm3. The objective of the research was to determine the impact of selected sludge conditioning methods on the quality of reject water obtained after sludge dewatering. The following parameters were analyzed in the reject water: the chemical oxygen demand (COD), phosphates, ammonium nitrogen, and total suspended solids (TSS). It has been observed that the sludge sonification process increases the content of impurities (COD, phosphates) in reject water with an increase in the amplitude of the ultrasonic field. On the other hand, the chemical reagents cause a decrease in the concentration of the pollutants with an increase of the chemical dose. It has been found that the inorganic coagulant PIX 113 gives much better results regarding the reduction of contamination than the polyelectrolyte Zetag 8180.
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Ye Y, Ngo HH, Guo W, Chang SW, Nguyen DD, Varjani S, Liu Q, Bui XT, Hoang NB. Bio-membrane integrated systems for nitrogen recovery from wastewater in circular bioeconomy. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 289:133175. [PMID: 34875297 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.133175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/02/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wastewater contains a significant amount of recoverable nitrogen. Hence, the recovery of nitrogen from wastewater can provide an option for generating some revenue by applying the captured nitrogen to producing bio-products, in order to minimize dangerous or environmental pollution consequences. The circular bio-economy can achieve greater environmental and economic sustainability through game-changing technological developments that will improve municipal wastewater management, where simultaneous nitrogen and energy recovery are required. Over the last decade, substantial efforts were undertaken concerning the recovery of nitrogen from wastewater. For example, bio-membrane integrated system (BMIS) which integrates biological process and membrane technology, has attracted considerable attention for recovering nitrogen from wastewater. In this review, current research on nitrogen recovery using the BMIS are compiled whilst the technologies are compared regarding their energy requirement, efficiencies, advantages and disadvantages. Moreover, the bio-products achieved in the nitrogen recovery system processes are summarized in this paper, and the directions for future research are suggested. Future research should consider the quality of recovered nitrogenous products, long-term performance of BMIS and economic feasibility of large-scale reactors. Nitrogen recovery should be addressed under the framework of a circular bio-economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyao Ye
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, No. 1037 Luoyu Road, Wuhan, 430074, PR China
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia; NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam.
| | - Wenshan Guo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2007, Australia
| | - Soon Woong Chang
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dinh Duc Nguyen
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Sunita Varjani
- Gujarat Pollution Control Board, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, 382 010, India
| | - Qiang Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, No. 99 Shangda Road, Shanghai, 200444, PR China.
| | - Xuan Thanh Bui
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology & Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City, 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Ngoc Bich Hoang
- NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
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Monetti J, Ledezma P, Freguia S. Optimised operational parameters for improved nutrient recovery from hydrolysed urine by bio-electroconcentration. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.119793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Wang Z, Hartline CJ, Zhang F, He Z. Enhanced microalgae cultivation using wastewater nutrients extracted by a microbial electrochemical system. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 206:117722. [PMID: 34637970 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 09/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/26/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Cultivating algae using wastewater nutrients is a potential approach to realize resource recovery that can contribute to circular economy. However, growing algae directly in a wastewater has problems such as bacterial contamination and a low biomass density. To address those problems, we investigated microalgal cultivation in a photobioreactor (PBR) fed with the nutrients extracted from wastewater by a microbial nutrient recovery cell (MNRC). With an external voltage of 0.3 V, the MNRC-PBR system removed 96% of COD and recovered 44% of NH4+-N and 39% of PO43--P at a hydraulic retention time of 7.2 h. Microalgae cultivated in the nutrient recovery medium from the MNRC had 8.3-fold biomass density and 1.4-fold lipid contents, versus that cultivated in a food wastewater containing more nutrients. More significantly, 90% of biomass yielded from the MNRC-PBR system was microalgae, much higher than ∼30% in the food wastewater. A liquid exchange ratio of 30% achieved the highest microalgal density of 0.61 ± 0.06 g L-1, comparable to that in a standard BG11 medium. There was a tradeoff between recycling PBR medium and microalgal growth. The accumulated salinity was observed in the extended operation of the MNRC-PBR system treating an actual food wastewater. The results of this study have demonstrated an effective approach to extract nutrients from wastewater for enhanced microalgal growth and improved biomass quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zixuan Wang
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Christopher J Hartline
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Fuzhong Zhang
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA
| | - Zhen He
- Department of Energy, Environmental & Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, 63130, USA.
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Ammonium and Phosphate Recovery in a Three Chambered Microbial Electrolysis Cell: Towards Obtaining Struvite from Livestock Manure. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9111916] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Ammonia and phosphate, which are present in large quantities in waste streams such as livestock manure, are key compounds in fertilization activities. Their recovery will help close natural cycles and take a step forward in the framework of a circular economy. In this work, a lab-scale three-chambered microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) has been operated in continuous mode for the recovery of ammonia and phosphate from digested pig slurry in order to obtain a nutrient concentrated solution as a potential source of fertilizer (struvite). The maximum average removal efficiencies for ammonium and phosphate were 20% ± 4% and 36% ± 10%, respectively. The pH of the recovered solution was below 7, avoiding salt precipitation in the reactor. According to Visual MINTEQ software modelling, an increase of pH value to 8 outside the reactor would be enough to recover most of the potential struvite (0.21 mmol L−1 d−1), while the addition of up to 0.2 mM of magnesium to the nutrient recovered solution would enhance struvite production from 5.6 to 17.7 mM. The application of three-chambered MECs to the recovery of nutrients from high strength wastewater is a promising technology to avoid ammonia production through industrial processes or phosphate mineral extraction and close nutrient natural cycles.
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