Performance of a continuous flow microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) fed with domestic wastewater

► A continuous MEC was able to reduce up to 76% of the DQO of a domestic wastewater. ► Hydrogen production rate peaked at 0.3LLr−1d−1 (hydraulic retention time: 3–6h). ► Hydrogen production rate saturated at OLRs above 2000mgLr−1d−1. ► Energy consumption was comparable to that typically associated t...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Bioresource technology 2012-08, Vol.117, p.55-62
Main Authors: Escapa, A., Gil-Carrera, L., García, V., Morán, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bioelectric Energy Sources - microbiology
Bioelectric Energy Sources - standards
Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
Bioreactors - microbiology
Continuous flow
Crack opening displacement
Domestic
Domestic wastewater
Electric potential
Electricity
Electrochemical Techniques
Electrolytic cells
Family Characteristics
Hydrogen
Hydrogen - metabolism
Hydrogen production
Microbial electrolysis cell
Microorganisms
Oxygen - metabolism
Oxygen demand
Regression Analysis
Rheology - instrumentation
Rheology - standards
Thermodynamics
Waste Disposal, Fluid
Waste water
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Summary:► A continuous MEC was able to reduce up to 76% of the DQO of a domestic wastewater. ► Hydrogen production rate peaked at 0.3LLr−1d−1 (hydraulic retention time: 3–6h). ► Hydrogen production rate saturated at OLRs above 2000mgLr−1d−1. ► Energy consumption was comparable to that typically associated to aerobic treatments. ► Low strength domestic wastewater failed to produce hydrogen regardless of the OLR. In this study, MEC performance was investigated in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, hydrogen production rate and energy consumption during continuous domestic wastewater (dWW) treatment at different organic loading rates (OLR) and applied voltages (Vapp). While the COD removal efficiency was improved at low OLRs, the electrical energy required to remove 1g of COD was significantly increased with decreasing the OLR. Hydrogen production exhibited a Monod-type trend as function of the OLR reaching a maximum production rate of 0.30L/(Lrd). Optimal Vapp was found to be highly dependent on the strength of the dWW. The results also confirmed the fact that MEC performance can be optimized by setting Vapp at the onset potential of the diffusion control region. Although low columbic efficiencies and the occurrence of hydrogen recycling limited significantly the reactor performance, these results demonstrate that MEC can be successfully used for dWW treatment.
ISSN:0960-8524
1873-2976
DOI:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.04.060