Evaluation of bioelectrochemical systems for wastewater treatment and sludge digestion

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
◽  
Shashikanth Gajaraj
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Bioelectrochemical Systems ◽  
Wastewater Remediation ◽  
Sludge Digestion ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

[ACCESS RESTRICTED TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MISSOURI AT AUTHOR'S REQUEST.] Much attention has been drawn by bioelectrochemical systems (BES) in the past years for wastewater treatment, due to its potential for enhanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery with added advantages in terms of energy generation, environmental footprint, operating stability and economics. This dissertation focuses on the potential to improve treatment efficiency of different wastewater components when assisted by BES. Modified Ludzack-Ettinger (MLE) process and membrane bioreactor (MBR) process assisted by microbial fuel cells (MFC) showed improved the nitrate-nitrogen removal efficiencies by upto 31% and 20% respectively, and reduced sludge produced by 11% and 6% respectively over the control reactors. While the unique design of the cathode significantly reduced physical membrane fouling, all other bioreactor performance was unaffected. Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) assisted Cr[VI] reduction was faster in 60 days as compared to 69 days with MFC assisted systems and 85 days with the control. The total Cr removal efficiencies in the control system and the MFC or MEC-assisted systems were 20%, 55%, and 65%, respectively, demonstrating the ability of BES in assisting wastewater remediation process. Finally, MECs incorporated into anaerobic digestion resulted in increased production of methane of 9.4 % or 8.5% with both glucose and activated sludge respectively as the substrate. The integration of MEC had no impact on acetoclastic methanogens involved in anaerobic digestion, but significantly increased the populations of hydrogenotrophic methanogens, especially Methanobacteriales. In conclusion, the integration of BES with conventional wastewater treatment and sludge digestion process enhanced the removal of organic matter, nitrate and toxic metals while supporting healthy microbial consortia.

scholarly journals Wastewater Remediation Using Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioenergy Production

2018 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji B. Prasath ◽  
Karen Poon
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Multidisciplinary Approach ◽  
Practical Interest ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Practical Application ◽  
Wastewater Remediation ◽  
Potential Benefits ◽  
Near Future

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) representing a promising technology for the extract of energy and resources through wastewater and it also offer an economic solution to the problem of environment effluent and energy crisis in near future. The advance device is rather appealing, due its potential benefits, its practical application is, however hindered by several drawbacks, such an internally competing microbial reaction, and low power generation. This report is an endeavor to address various design connected to the MFCs application to wastewater treatment, in particular cost effective bioelectricity from waste water are reviewed and discussed with a multidisciplinary approach. The conclusions drawn herein can be of practical interest to all new researchers dealing with effluent wastewater treatment using MFCs.

scholarly journals Evaluation of microbial fuel cell (MFC) for bioelectricity generation and pollutants removal from sugar beet processing wastewater (SBPW)

2017 ◽  
Vol 77 (2) ◽  
pp. 387-397 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atikur Rahman ◽  
Md Saidul Borhan ◽  
Shafiqur Rahman
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Sugar Beet ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Coulombic Efficiency ◽  
Pollutant Removal ◽  
Microbial Consortia ◽  
Anode Chamber ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
Bioelectricity Generation

AbstractBioelectricity generation from biodegradable compounds using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offers an opportunity for simultaneous wastewater treatment. This study evaluated the synergy of electricity generation by the MFC while reducing pollutants from sugar beet processing wastewater (SBPW). A simple dual-chamber MFC was constructed with inexpensive materials without using catalysts. Raw SBPW was diluted to several concentrations (chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 505 to 5,750 mg L−1) and fed as batch-mode into the MFC without further modification. A power density of 14.9 mW m−2 as power output was observed at a COD concentration of 2,565 mg L−1. Coulombic efficiency varied from 6.21% to 0.73%, indicating diffusion of oxygen through the cation exchange membrane and other methanogenesis and fermentation processes occurring in the anode chamber. In this study, >97% of the COD and up to 100% of the total suspended solids removals were observed from MFC-treated SBPW. Scanning electron microscopy of anode indicated that a diverse community of microbial consortia was active for electricity generation and wastewater treatment. This study demonstrated that SBPW can be used as a substrate in the MFC to generate electricity as well as to treat for pollutant removal.

Energy self-sufficient sewage wastewater treatment plants: is optimized anaerobic sludge digestion the key?

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (8) ◽  
pp. 1739-1744 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Jenicek ◽  
J. Kutil ◽  
O. Benes ◽  
V. Todt ◽  
J. Zabranska ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Biogas Production ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Waste Activated Sludge ◽  
Sludge Digestion ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge Digestion ◽  
Standard Energy

The anaerobic digestion of primary and waste activated sludge generates biogas that can be converted into energy to power the operation of a sewage wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). But can the biogas generated by anaerobic sludge digestion ever completely satisfy the electricity requirements of a WWTP with ‘standard’ energy consumption (i.e. industrial pollution not treated, no external organic substrate added)? With this question in mind, we optimized biogas production at Prague's Central Wastewater Treatment Plant in the following ways: enhanced primary sludge separation; thickened waste activated sludge; implemented a lysate centrifuge; increased operational temperature; improved digester mixing. With these optimizations, biogas production increased significantly to 12.5 m3 per population equivalent per year. In turn, this led to an equally significant increase in specific energy production from approximately 15 to 23.5 kWh per population equivalent per year. We compared these full-scale results with those obtained from WWTPs that are already energy self-sufficient, but have exceptionally low energy consumption. Both our results and our analysis suggest that, with the correct optimization of anaerobic digestion technology, even WWTPs with ‘standard’ energy consumption can either attain or come close to attaining energy self-sufficiency.

scholarly journals Performance of air-cathode stacked microbial fuel cells systems for wastewater treatment and electricity production

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (3) ◽  
pp. 683-693 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edson Baltazar Estrada-Arriaga ◽  
Yvonne Guillen-Alonso ◽  
Cornelio Morales-Morales ◽  
Liliana García-Sánchez ◽  
Erick Obed Bahena-Bahena ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Maximum Power ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Air Cathode ◽  
Removal Efficiencies ◽  
Power Densities

Two different air-cathode stacked microbial fuel cell (MFC) configurations were evaluated under continuous flow during the treatment of municipal wastewater and electricity production at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3, 1, and 0.5 d. Stacked MFC 1 was formed by 20 individual air-cathode MFC units. The second stacked MFC (stacked MFC 2) consisted of 40 air-cathode MFC units placed in a shared reactor. The maximum voltages produced at closed circuit (1,000 Ω) were 170 mV for stacked MFC 1 and 94 mV for stacked MFC 2. Different power densities in each MFC unit were obtained due to a potential drop phenomenon and to a change in chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations inside reactors. The maximum power densities from individual MFC units were up to 1,107 mW/m2 for stacked MFC 1 and up to 472 mW/m2 for stacked MFC 2. The maximum power densities in stacked MFC 1 and MFC 2 connected in series were 79 mW/m2 and 4 mW/m2, respectively. Electricity generation and COD removal efficiencies were reduced when the HRT was decreased. High removal efficiencies of 84% of COD, 47% of total nitrogen, and 30% of total phosphorus were obtained during municipal wastewater treatment.

scholarly journals A Review on Microbial Electrocatalysis Systems Coupled with Membrane Bioreactor to Improve Wastewater Treatment

2019 ◽  
Vol 7 (10) ◽  
pp. 372 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wang ◽  
Zhao ◽  
Kakade ◽  
Kulshreshtha ◽  
Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Processing Efficiency ◽  
Additional Energy ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Microbial Electrocatalysis

Microbial electrocatalysis is an electro reaction that uses microorganisms as a biocatalyst, mainly including microbial electrolytic cells (MEC) and microbial fuel cells (MFC), which has been used for wastewater treatment. However, the low processing efficiency is the main drawback for its practical application and the additional energy input of MEC system results in high costs. Recently, MFC/MEC coupled with other treatment processes, especially membrane bioreactors (MBR), has been used for high efficiency and low-cost wastewater treatment. In these systems, the wastewater treatment efficiency can be improved after two units are operated and the membrane fouling of MBR can also be alleviated by the electric energy that was generated in the MFC. In addition, the power output of MFC can also reduce the energy consumption of microbial electrocatalysis systems. This review summarizes the recent studies about microbial electrocatalysis systems coupled with MBR, describing the combination types and microorganism distribution, the advantages and limitations of the systems, and also addresses several suggestions for the future development and practical applications.

scholarly journals Comparative Studies on the Chemo and Biosynthesized Nanomaterials for the Remediation of Pharmaceutical Residues in Wastewater

2020 ◽  
Vol 45 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
C. M. Ngwu ◽  
J. C. Nnaji ◽  
S. O. Odoemelam ◽  
F. J. Amaku
Keyword(s):  
Ascorbic Acid ◽  
Zinc Oxide ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Wastewater Remediation ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Zno Nps ◽  
X Ray ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

In the present study, comparison was made on the wastewater remediation efficiencies of chemically and biologically synthesized magnetite and zinc oxide nanoparticles. Starchytarpheta indica (snake weed) leaf extract was used as a reducing and capping agent in the green synthesis of magnetite and zinc oxide. The synthesized nanoparticles (NPs) were characterized by X-ray diffraction studies (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Fourier transform infra-red spectroscopy (FTIR). These synthesized nanoparticles were further applied in the treatment of industrial pharmaceutical effluent basically comprising amoxicillin, acetaminophen and ascorbic acid. The NPs all performed differently in the removal of these pharmaceutical active compounds. Results showed that the NPs had significant removal efficiencies for acetaminophen, ranging from 67.07 % - 93.59 %, with bio-ZnO having the highest removal efficiency and magnetite giving the least. The range of removal efficiency for ascorbic acid was 54.35 % - 100 %, Magnetite and bio-magnetite showed the highest removal efficiencies whereas bio-ZnO had the least removal rate. Wastewater treatment for the removal of amoxicillin residues with the synthesized nanoparticles was not quite significant, negative removal patterns were observed for wastewater treatment with bio-ZnO and magnetite, a removal rate of 16.82 % was obtained for treatment with bio-magnetite, ZnO NPs had the highest removal efficiency of 49.73 %. Generally, ZnO and bio-magnetite NPs displayed better removal capacities than the other NPs, with overall removal rates of 64.71 % and 48.92 % for ZnO and bio-magnetite NPs respectively.

Inactivation of Giardia by Anaerobic Digestion of Sludge

1993 ◽  
Vol 27 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 111-114 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. D. Gavaghan ◽  
J. L. Sykora ◽  
W. Jakubowski ◽  
C. A. Sorber ◽  
A. M. Sninsky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Wastewater Treatment Plant ◽  
Phase Contrast ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Phase Contrast Microscope ◽  
Sludge Digestion ◽  
Contrast Microscope ◽  
Direct Counts

Sludge produced by a model wastewater treatment plant and anaerobically digested at 37°C in a laboratory digester was seeded with G. muris cysts. Samples from the digester were collected at 0:15, 4:00, 8:00, 11:30 and 26:00 hrs. Cyst inactivation was measured by excystation and direct counts of G. muris cysts using a hemacytometer and a phase contrast microscope. The results showed that 99.9% of the cysts were inactivated within apgroximately 18:00 hrs of exposure. This demonstrates that the standard sludge digestion (37°C for 24 hrs) will eliminate most of the cysts (greater than 99.9%).

A review of anaerobic membrane bioreactors for municipal wastewater treatment with a focus on multicomponent biogas and membrane fouling control

2020 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 2641-2663
Author(s):  
Yisong Hu ◽  
Hui Cheng ◽  
Jiayuan Ji ◽  
Yu-You Li
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Viable Alternative ◽  
Municipal Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fouling Control ◽  
Anaerobic Membrane Bioreactors

Among the various anaerobic digestion technologies developed for wastewater treatment and resource recovery, the anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) stands out as a viable alternative to traditional processes.

scholarly journals A critical review on nanomaterials membrane bioreactor (NMs-MBR) for wastewater treatment

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Md. Nahid Pervez ◽  
Malini Balakrishnan ◽  
Shadi Wajih Hasan ◽  
Kwang-Ho Choo ◽  
Yaping Zhao ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Membrane Fouling ◽  
Critical Review ◽  
Membrane Bioreactor ◽  
Membrane Bioreactors ◽  
Removal Efficiencies

Abstract The concept of nanomaterials membranes (NMs) promises to be a sustainable route to improve the membrane characteristics and enhance the performance of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) treating wastewater. This paper provided a critical review of recent studies on the use of membranes incorporating nanomaterials in membrane bioreactor (NMs-MBR) applications for wastewater treatment. Novel types of nanomaterials membranes were identified and discussed based on their structural morphologies. For each type, their design and fabrication, advances and potentialities were presented. The performance of NMs-MBR system has been summarized in terms of removal efficiencies of common pollutants and membrane fouling. The review also highlighted the sustainability and cost viability aspects of NMs-MBR technology that can enhance their widespread use in wastewater treatment applications.

scholarly journals Synergistic Effect of Magnetite and Bioelectrochemical Systems on Anaerobic Digestion

2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 198
Author(s):  
Nhlanganiso Ivan Madondo ◽  
Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh ◽  
Sudesh Rathilal ◽  
Babatunde Femi Bakare
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Synergistic Effect ◽  
Suspended Solids ◽  
Industrial Effluent ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Bioelectrochemical Systems ◽  
Methane Generation ◽  
Copper Electrodes ◽  
Great Possibility

Conventionally, the anaerobic digestion of industrial effluent to biogas constitutes less than 65% methane, which warrants its potential methanation to mitigate carbon dioxide and other anthropogenic gas emissions. The performance of the anaerobic digestion process can be enhanced by improving biochemical activities. The aim of this study was to examine the synergistic effect of the magnetite and bioelectrochemical systems (BES) on anaerobic digestion by comparing four digesters, namely a microbial fuel cell (MFC), microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), MEC with 1 g of magnetite nanoparticles (MECM), and a control digester with only sewage sludge (500 mL) and inoculum (300 mL). The MFC digester was equipped with zinc and copper electrodes including a 100 Ω resistor, whereas the MEC was supplied with 0.4 V on the electrodes. The MECM digester performed better as it improved microbial activity, increased the content of methane (by 43% compared to 41% of the control), and reduced contaminants (carbon oxygen demand, phosphates, colour, turbidity, total suspended solids, and total organic carbon) by more than 81.9%. Current density (jmax = 25.0 mA/m2) and electrical conductivity (275 µS/cm) were also high. The prospects of combining magnetite and bioelectrochemical systems seem very promising as they showed a great possibility for use in bioelectrochemical methane generation and wastewater treatment.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document