title: Development of an activated carbon-packed microbial bioelectrochemical system for azo dye degradation.
abstract: A microbial bioelectrochemical reactor (BER) was employed for the degradation of azo dyes without the use of an external electron donor, using activated carbon (GAC) as a redox mediator. Contribution of pH values, open circuit potential (OCP), dye concentration and applied current were individually studied. A batch system and an upflow fixed bed bioreactor were built for analyzing the effect of the applied current on biodegradation of the azo dye Reactive Red 272. The presence of GAC (20% w/v) regulated both pH and OCP values in solution and led to a removal efficiency of 98%. Cyclic voltammetry results indicate a dependence of the electron transfer mechanism with the concentration of the azo compound. With these results, a continuous flow reactor operating with J=0.045 mA cm(-2), led to removal rates of 95% (± 3.5%) in a half-residence time of 1 hour.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica, Parque Tecnológico Querétaro Sanfandila, 76703 Sanfandila, Pedro Escobedo, Qro, Mexico.
authors.forename: Arely
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Cardenas-Robles
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martinez
authors.forename: Idelfonso
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rendon-Alcantar
authors.forename: Carlos
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Frontana
authors.forename: Linda
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gonzalez-Gutierrez
mesh_terms: D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000378:metabolism*; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D002606:Charcoal / Q000378:metabolism*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000378:metabolism*; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000379:methods; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000378:metabolism*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical; D002606:Charcoal