title: Expediting COD removal in microbial electrolysis cells by increasing biomass concentration.
abstract: Microorganisms catalyse the reaction and in this study, mainly the effect of different concentration of biomass on COD removal was investigated. Three sets of two-compartment reactors were established. The cation exchange membrane (CEM) was employed in each reactor and 0.5 V of electricity was supplied. Graphite rod employed in cathodic part and a combination of graphite rod and graphite granules were used in anodic chamber. The highest rate of COD removal (40 ± 2.0 ppm/h) was achieved in the reactor which had initial VSS at 6130 mg/l, whereas the slowest rate of 23 ± 1.2 ppm/h in the reactor started with 3365 mgVSS/l. Some ammonia removal was also noticed during the operation. Further understanding and improvement is needed to be competitive against traditional wastewater treatment processes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Curtin University, Kent St., Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
authors.forename: Hanieh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Aboutalebi
authors.forename: Arumugam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sathasivan
authors.forename: K C Bal
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Krishna
authors.forename: Ahmad Jabari
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Kohpaei
mesh_terms: D000641:Ammonia / Q000737:chemistry; D018533:Biomass; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods*; D002412:Cations; D002852:Chromatography, Ion Exchange / Q000379:methods; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010100:Oxygen / Q000737:chemistry*; D013997:Time Factors; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000737:chemistry; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D007477:Ions; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D000641:Ammonia; D006108:Graphite; D010100:Oxygen