Evaluation of microbial fuel cell coupled with aeration chamber and bio-cathode for organic matter and nitrogen removal from synthetic domestic wastewater

Water Sci Technol. 2009;60(6):1409-18. doi: 10.2166/wst.2009.489.

Abstract

For simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal via single stream, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) coupled with an aeration chamber and a bio-cathode was investigated. Without catalysts and any additional buffer, the MFC produced electricity continuously and the power density reached 1.3 W/m3 at a loading rate of 1.6 kg COD/m3 d. Simultaneously, the COD and the nitrate removal rate were 1.4 kg COD/m3 d and 67 g NO3-N/m3 d, respectively. When the hydraulic retention time was changed from 6 to 0.75 hours, the power density significantly increased from 0.2 to 10.8 W/m3 due to an increase of cathodic potential. When the aeration chamber was removed and the nitrate was injected into the cathode, the power density increased to 3.7 W/m3. At a high recirculation rate of 10 ml/min, the power density and the nitrate removal rate greatly increased to 34 W/m3 and 294 g NO3--N/m3 d, respectively.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Air*
  • Bioelectric Energy Sources / microbiology*
  • Electricity
  • Electrodes
  • Nitrogen / isolation & purification*
  • Nitrogen / metabolism
  • Organic Chemicals / isolation & purification*
  • Organic Chemicals / metabolism
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Time Factors
  • Water / chemistry
  • Water Purification / instrumentation
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Organic Chemicals
  • Water
  • Nitrogen
  • Oxygen