title: Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal using an oxic/anoxic-biocathode microbial fuel cells coupled system.
abstract: A coupled microbial fuel cell (MFC) system comprising of an oxic-biocathode MFC (O-MFC) and an anoxic-biocathode MFC (A-MFC) was implemented for simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen from a synthetic wastewater. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the influent was mainly reduced at the anodes of the two MFCs; ammonium was oxidized to nitrate in the O-MFC's cathode, and nitrate was electrochemically denitrified in the A-MFC's cathode. The coupled MFC system reached power densities of 14 W/m(3) net cathodic compartment (NCC) and 7.2 W/m(3) NCC for the O-MFC and the A-MFC, respectively. In addition, the MFC system obtained a maximum COD, NH(4)(+)-N and TN removal rate of 98.8%, 97.4% and 97.3%, respectively, at an A-MFC external resistance of 5 Ω, a recirculation ratio (recirculated flow to total influent flow) of 2:1, and an influent flow ratio (O-MFC anode flow to A-MFC anode flow) of 1:1.
authors.affiliation: State Key Joint Laboratory of Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xie
authors.forename: Peng
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Liang
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xia
authors.forename: Xia
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D058440:Denitrification; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry; D004566:Electrodes; D000860:Hypoxia; D009566:Nitrates / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009566:Nitrates; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D002244:Carbon; D009584:Nitrogen; D010100:Oxygen