title: A new method for nutrients removal and recovery from wastewater using a bioelectrochemical system.
abstract: Nutrients management is a key task of wastewater treatment and removal of nutrients is usually associated with significant energy/economic cost. A new bioelectrochemical system, named "R(2)-BES", was developed for removing and possibly recovering nutrients from wastewater. This R(2)-BES takes advantage of bioelectricity generation from oxidation of organic compounds to drive ammonium migration out of wastewater, and uses hydroxide ions produced from the cathode reaction as a medium to exchange phosphate ions from wastewater at the same time. Under an applied voltage of 0.8 V, the R(2)-BES removed 83.4 ± 1.3% of ammonium nitrogen and 52.4 ± 9.8% of phosphate, significantly higher than those (3.6 ± 3.7% and 21.1 ± 2.6%) under an open circuit condition. Applying an external voltage can increase current generation, COD removal, and nutrient removal. Those results demonstrate a proof of concept that the R(2)-BES may be potentially applied to remove and recover nutrients through appropriate integration into the existing treatment facilities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Fei
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA. Electronic address: zhenhe@vt.edu.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: He
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D011232:Chemical Precipitation; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D009584:Nitrogen / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009584:Nitrogen; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Bioelectrochemical system; Microbial fuel cells; Nitrogen and phosphorus; Nutrients removal and recovery; Wastewater treatment