title: Microbial desalination cells for improved performance in wastewater treatment, electricity production, and desalination.
abstract: The low conductivity and alkalinity in municipal wastewater significantly limit power production from microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study integrated desalination with wastewater treatment and electricity production in a microbial desalination cell (MDC) by utilizing the mutual benefits among the above functions. When using wastewater as the sole substrate, the power output from the MDC (8.01 W/m(3)) was four times higher than a control MFC without desalination function. In addition, the MDC removed 66% of the salts and improved COD removal by 52% and Coulombic efficiency by 131%. Desalination in MDCs improved wastewater characteristics by increasing the conductivity by 2.5 times and stabilizing anolyte pH, which therefore reduced system resistance and maintained microbial activity. Microbial community analysis revealed a more diverse anode microbial structure in the MDC than in the MFC. The results demonstrated that MDC can serve as a viable option for integrated wastewater treatment, energy production, and desalination.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80004, USA.
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Pei
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Timberley M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Roane
authors.forename: Peter E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jenkins
authors.forename: Zhiyong
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ren
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018441:Biofilms; D001709:Biotechnology / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D004867:Equipment Design; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D015233:Models, Statistical; D012492:Salts / Q000032:analysis; D013997:Time Factors; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D004573:Electrolytes; D012492:Salts; D014867:Water