title: Autotrophic biocathode for high efficient sulfate reduction in microbial electrolysis cells.
abstract: The aim of this study was to utilize the biocathode microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for sulfate removal from wastewater. Experiments were conducted using the two-chambered MEC under fed-batch and continuous flow modes, respectively, with different cathode potentials. With the fed-batch operation, the average reductive rate of sulfate was 0.49 mg d(-1) and the sulfide concentration increased to 3.1 ± 0.7 mg L(-1) in the catholyte. Sulfate removal rate and electron production rate in the continuous flow mode were 49% and 11 times higher than in the fed-batch mode. With cathode potentials from -0.6 to -1.0 V, electron recovery efficiencies ranged from 5.3% to 50% with the maximum obtained at -0.8 V. The maximum sulfate removal efficiency of (39 ± 9.2)% was achieved at -0.9 V. This study suggests the MEC can be a valuable alternative to remove sulfate in wastewater treatment.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
authors.forename: Haiping
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
authors.forename: Shiyu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China. Electronic address: liugl@mail.sysu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Guangli
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
authors.forename: Renduo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
authors.forename: Yaoping
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Bai
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510275, China.
authors.forename: Xiaonan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Luo
mesh_terms: D052818:Autotrophic Processes; D061249:Batch Cell Culture Techniques; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D013431:Sulfates / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D013431:Sulfates
keywords: Biocathode; Microbial electrolysis cell; Sulfate reducing bacteria; Sulfate reduction