title: Microbial electrolysis cell scale-up for combined wastewater treatment and hydrogen production.
abstract: This study demonstrates microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) scale-up from a 50mL to a 10L cell. Initially, a 50mL membraneless MEC with a gas diffusion cathode was operated on synthetic wastewater at different organic loads. It was concluded that process scale-up might be best accomplished using a "reactor-in-series" concept. Consequently, 855mL and 10L MECs were built and operated. By optimizing the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the 855mL MEC and individually controlling the applied voltages of three anodic compartments with a real-time optimization algorithm, a COD removal of 5.7g L(R)(-1)d(-1) and a hydrogen production of 1.0-2.6L L(R)(-1)d(-1) was achieved. Furthermore, a two MECs in series 10L setup was constructed and operated on municipal wastewater. This test showed a COD removal rate of 0.5g L(R)(-1)d(-1), a removal efficiency of 60-76%, and an energy consumption of 0.9Whperg of COD removed.
authors: Chemical Engineering Department, University of León, IRENA-ESTIA, Avda. de Portugal 41, León 24009, Spain.
authors: L
authors: L
authors: Gil-Carrera
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Escapa
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Mehta
authors: G
authors: G
authors: Santoyo
authors: S R
authors: SR
authors: Guiot
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Morán
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Tartakovsky
mesh_terms: D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D004572:Electrolysis; D006859:Hydrogen / Q000378:metabolism*; D007218:Industrial Microbiology; D062065:Wastewater; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D006859:Hydrogen; D062065:Wastewater