Enhanced nitrogen removal in bio-electrochemical systems by pH control.
Microbial fuel cells can be designed to remove nitrogenous compounds out of wastewater, but their performance is at present limited to 0.33 kg NO(3) (-)-Nm(-3) net cathode compartment (NCC) d(-1). By maintaining the pH in the cathode at 7.2, nitrogen removal was increased from 0.22 to 0.50 kg NO(3) (-)-Nm(-3) NCC d(-1). Bio-electrochemical active microorganisms seem to struggle with the deterioration of their own environment due to slow proton fluxes. Therefore, the results suggest that an appropriate pH adjustment strategy is necessary to allow a sustained and enhanced biological activity in bio-electrochemical systems.
Clauwaert
Peter
P
Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Desloover
Joachim
J
Shea
Caitlyn
C
Nerenberg
Rob
R
Boon
Nico
N
Verstraete
Willy
W
D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004560:Electricity; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014871:Water Microbiology
D009584:Nitrogen