Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal using a litre-scale upflow microbial fuel cell

Zusammenfassung

A 10 L upflow microbial fuel cell (UMFC) was constructed for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal. During the 6-month operation, the UMFC constantly removed carbon and nitrogen, and then generated electricity with synthetic wastewater as substrate. At 5.0 mg L⁻¹ dissolved oxygen, 100 Ω external resistance, and pH 6.5, the maximum power density (Pmax) and nitrification rate for the UMFC was 19.5 mW m⁻² and 17.9 mg·(L d)−1, respectively. In addition, Pmax in the UMFC with chicken manure wastewater as substrate was 16 mW m⁻², and a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 94.1% in the UMFC was achieved at 50 mM phosphate-buffered saline. Almost all ammonia in the cathode effluent was effectively degraded after biological denitrification in the UMFC cathode. The results can help to further develop pilot-scale microbial fuel cells for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal.

Zentrale Ergebnisse

• ▸Maximum power density of 19.5 mW m⁻² at 5.0 mg L⁻¹ dissolved oxygen, 100 Ω external resistance, and pH 6.5
• ▸Nitrification rate of 17.9 mg·(L d)−1
• ▸High chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 94.1% at 50 mM phosphate-buffered saline

Schlagwörter

Kennungen

DOI

10.2166/wst.2013.705

Zeitschrift

Water Science and Technology

Jahr

2013