Influence of carbon anode properties on performance and microbiome of Microbial Electrolysis Cells operated on urine

Barbosa, Sónia; Peixoto, L.; Soares, O.S.G.P.; Pereira, M. Fernando R.; Heijne, Annemiek ter; Kuntke, Philipp; Alves, M. M.; Pereira, M. A.

doi:10.1016/j.electacta.2018.02.083

Cited by 23 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 56 publications

(53 reference statements)

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…Finally, two recent studies have carried out interesting microbiological analysis on the anodes of MECs operating with urine. In both cases Phyla Firmicutes and Proteobacteria were found on the anode materials …”

Section: Bioelectrochemical Systems Fed With Urinementioning

confidence: 93%

Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

In recent years, human urine has been successfully used as an electrolyte and organic substrate in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) mainly due of its unique properties. Urine contains organic compounds that can be utilised as a fuel for energy recovery in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and it has high nutrient concentrations including nitrogen and phosphorous that can be concentrated and recovered in microbial electrosynthesis cells and microbial concentration cells. Moreover, human urine has high solution conductivity, which reduces the ohmic losses of these systems, improving BES output. This review describes the most recent advances in BESs utilising urine. Properties of neat human urine used in state‐of‐the‐art MFCs are described from basic to pilot‐scale and real implementation. Utilisation of urine in other bioelectrochemical systems for nutrient recovery is also discussed including proofs of concept to scale up systems.

show abstract

Section: Bioelectrochemical Systems Fed With Urinementioning

confidence: 93%

Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review

et al. 2020

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Organic species are oxidised to CO 2 by EAB, with the activity of the EAB being the most important factor in CO 2 production. The efficiency of the anode and biofilm can be measured by the current density, Coulombic Efficiency (CE) and COD reduction [56]. Carbon materials are at present the most commonly used electrode material due to their strong anchorage of EAB, high surface area and availability [57].…”

Section: Anode Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Electrolysis Cells for Decentralised Wastewater Treatment: The Next Steps

Fudge

Bulmer²,

Bowman³

et al. 2021

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Traditional wastewater treatment methods have become aged and inefficient, meaning alternative methods are essential to protect the environment and ensure water and energy security worldwide. The use of microbial electrolysis cells (MEC) for wastewater treatment provides an innovative alternative, working towards circular wastewater treatment for energy production. This study evaluates the factors hindering industrial adoption of this technology and proposes the next steps for further research and development. Existing pilot-scale investigations are studied to critically assess the main limitations, focusing on the electrode material, feedstock, system design and inoculation and what steps need to be taken for industrial adoption of the technology. It was found that high strength influents lead to an increase in energy production, improving economic viability; however, large variations in waste streams indicated that a homogenous solution to wastewater treatment is unlikely with changes to the MEC system specific to different waste streams. The current capital cost of implementing MECs is high and reducing the cost of the electrodes should be a priority. Previous pilot-scale studies have predominantly used carbon-based materials. Significant reductions in relative performance are observed when electrodes increase in size. Inoculation time was found to be a significant barrier to quick operational performance. Economic analysis of the technology indicated that MECs offer an attractive option for wastewater treatment, namely greater energy production and improved treatment efficiency. However, a significant reduction in capital cost is necessary to make this economically viable. MEC based systems should offer improvements in system reliability, reduced downtime, improved treatment rates and improved energy return. Discussion of the merits of H2 or CH4 production indicates that an initial focus on methane production could provide a stepping-stone in the adoption of this technology while the hydrogen market matures.

show abstract

“…The microbial communities show an increase in the relative abundance of bacteria belonging to the Burkholderiales (from <1.5 to 25.5%), Bacteroidales (from 3.1 to 11.7%), Pseudomonadales (from <1.5 to 9.4%) and Clostridiales (from 10.4 to 12.6%) orders. The representatives of the Burkholderiales (Alcaligenaceae, Comamonadaceae), Bacteroidales (Porphyromonadaceae), Pseudomonadales (Pseudomonadaceae) orders have been previously described as bacteria able to perform electrochemical interactions with the anode [54][55][56][57][58]. Likewise, the presence of the families Porphyromonadaceae, Comamonadaceae and Pseudomonadaceae were described on the cathode [59] or in cathodic chambers [60].…”

Section: Microbial Communitiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial Assisted Hexavalent Chromium Removal in Bioelectrochemical Systems

Beretta

Daghio

Espinoza-Tofalos

et al. 2020

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Groundwater is the environmental matrix that is most frequently affected by anthropogenic hexavalent chromium contamination. Due to its carcinogenicity, Cr(VI) has to be removed, using environmental-friendly and economically sustainable remediation technologies. BioElectrochemical Systems (BESs), applied to bioremediation, thereby offering a promising alternative to traditional bioremediation techniques, without affecting the natural groundwater conditions. Some bacterial families are capable of oxidizing and/or reducing a solid electrode obtaining an energetic advantage for their own growth. In the present study, we assessed the possibility of stimulating bioelectrochemical reduction of Cr(VI) in a dual-chamber polarized system using an electrode as the sole energy source. To develop an electroactive microbial community three electrodes were, at first, inserted into the anodic compartment of a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell, and inoculated with sludge from an anaerobic digester. After a period of acclimation, one electrode was transferred into a polarized system and it was fixed at −0.3 V (versus standard hydrogen electrode, SHE), to promote the reduction of 1000 µg Cr(VI) L−1. A second electrode, served for the set-up of an open circuit control, operated in parallel. Cr(VI) dissolved concentration was analysed at the initial, during the experiment and final time by spectrophotometric method. Initial and final microbial characterization of the communities enriched in polarized system and open circuit control was performed by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The bioelectrode set at −0.3 V showed high Cr(VI) removal efficiency (up to 93%) and about 150 µg L−1 day−1 removal rate. Similar efficiency was observed in the open circuit (OC) even at about half rate. Whereas, purely electrochemical reduction, limited to 35%, due to neutral operating conditions. These results suggest that bioelectrochemical Cr(VI) removal by polarized electrode offers a promising new and sustainable approach to the treatment of groundwater Cr(VI) plumes, deserving further research.

show abstract

Influence of carbon anode properties on performance and microbiome of Microbial Electrolysis Cells operated on urine

Cited by 23 publications

References 56 publications

Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review

Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review

Microbial Electrolysis Cells for Decentralised Wastewater Treatment: The Next Steps

Microbial Assisted Hexavalent Chromium Removal in Bioelectrochemical Systems

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About