title: Bioelectrochemical anaerobic sewage treatment technology for Arctic communities.
abstract: This study describes a novel wastewater treatment technology suitable for small remote northern communities. The technology is based on an enhanced biodegradation of organic carbon through a combination of anaerobic methanogenic and microbial electrochemical (bioelectrochemical) degradation processes leading to biomethane production. The microbial electrochemical degradation is achieved in a membraneless flow-through bioanode-biocathode setup operating at an applied voltage below the water electrolysis threshold. Laboratory wastewater treatment tests conducted through a broad range of mesophilic and psychrophilic temperatures (5-23 °C) using synthetic wastewater showed a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) removal efficiency of 90-97% and an effluent BOD5concentration as low as 7 mg L-1. An electricity consumption of 0.6 kWh kg-1of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removed was observed. Low energy consumption coupled with enhanced methane production led to a net positive energy balance in the bioelectrochemical treatment system.
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Ave, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada. Boris.Tartakovsky@cnrc-nrc.gc.ca.
authors.forename: Boris
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Tartakovsky
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada, 12000 Montreal Rd, Ottawa, ON, K1A 0R6, Canada.
authors.forename: Yehuda
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kleiner
authors.affiliation: National Research Council of Canada, 6100 Royalmount Ave, Montreal, QC, H4P 2R2, Canada.
authors.forename: Michelle-France
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Manuel
mesh_terms: D000693:Anaerobiosis; D056804:Biofuels; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors / Q000382:microbiology; D002244:Carbon / Q000378:metabolism; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D004572:Electrolysis; D004867:Equipment Design; D008697:Methane / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry; D013696:Temperature; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D056804:Biofuels; D002244:Carbon; D008697:Methane; D012722:Sewage; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Anaerobic; Bioelectrochemical; Microbial electrolysis cell; Psychrophilic; Wastewater