title: Concurrent Phosphorus Recovery and Energy Generation in Mediator-Less Dual Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells: Mechanisms and Influencing Factors.
abstract: This study investigated the mechanism and key factors influencing concurrent phosphorus (P) recovery and energy generation in microbial fuel cells (MFC) during wastewater treatment. Using a mediator-less dual chamber microbial fuel cell operated for 120 days; P was shown to precipitate as struvite when ammonium and magnesium chloride solutions were added to the cathode chamber. Monitoring data for chemical oxygen demand (COD), pH, oxidation reduction potential (ORP) and aeration flow rate showed that a maximum 38% P recovery was achieved; and this corresponds to 1.5 g/L, pH > 8, -550 ± 10 mV and 50 mL/min respectively, for COD, pH(cathode), ORP and cathode aeration flow rate. More importantly, COD and aeration flow rate were shown to be the key influencing factors for the P recovery and energy generation. Results further show that the maximum P recovery corresponds to 72 mW/m² power density. However, the energy generated at maximum P recovery was not the optimum; this shows that whilst P recovery and energy generation can be concurrently achieved in a microbial fuel cell, neither can be at the optimal value.
authors.affiliation: Hydro-Environment Research Centre, Energy and Environment Theme, Cardiff University School of Engineering, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK. almatouqa@cardiff.ac.uk.|Kuwait Institute of Scientific Research, P.O. Box 24885, Safat 13109, Kuwait. almatouqa@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Abdullah
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Almatouq
authors.affiliation: Hydro-Environment Research Centre, Energy and Environment Theme, Cardiff University School of Engineering, Queen's Buildings, The Parade, Cardiff CF24 3AA, UK. BabatundeA@cardiff.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Akintunde O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Babatunde
mesh_terms: D000643:Ammonium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D004566:Electrodes; D015636:Magnesium Chloride / Q000737:chemistry; D017616:Magnesium Compounds / Q000737:chemistry; D010710:Phosphates / Q000737:chemistry; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D000069877:Struvite; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid; D062065:Wastewater
chemical_list: D000643:Ammonium Chloride; D015636:Magnesium Chloride; D017616:Magnesium Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D000069877:Struvite; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: bio-electrochemical system; microbial fuel cell; phosphorus; phosphorus recovery; struvite