Abstract
The low conductivity and alkalinity in municipal wastewater significantly limit power production from microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study integrated desalination with wastewater treatment and electricity production in a microbial desalination cell (MDC) by utilizing the mutual benefits among the above functions. When using wastewater as the sole substrate, the power output from the MDC (8.01W/m 3) was four times higher than a control MFC without desalination function. In addition, the MDC removed 66% of the salts and improved COD removal by 52% and Coulombic efficiency by 131%. Desalination in MDCs improved wastewater characteristics by increasing the conductivity by 2.5 times and stabilizing anolyte pH, which therefore reduced system resistance and maintained microbial activity. Microbial community analysis revealed a more diverse anode microbial structure in the MDC than in the MFC. The results demonstrated that MDC can serve as a viable option for integrated wastewater treatment, energy production, and desalination.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 60-66 |
| Number of pages | 7 |
| Journal | Bioresource Technology |
| Volume | 105 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Feb 2012 |
| Externally published | Yes |
All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes
- Bioengineering
- Waste Management and Disposal
- Environmental Engineering
- Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Keywords
- Desalination
- Electricity production
- Microbial desalination cell
- Microbial fuel cell
- Wastewater