Concurrent phosphorus recovery and energy generation in mediator-less dual chamber microbial fuel cells: mechanisms and influencing factors

Almatouq, Abdullah and Babatunde, Akintunde 2016. Concurrent phosphorus recovery and energy generation in mediator-less dual chamber microbial fuel cells: mechanisms and influencing factors. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health 13 (4) , 375. 10.3390/ijerph13040375

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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, pHcathode, 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.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Engineering
Subjects:	T Technology > TA Engineering (General). Civil engineering (General)
Publisher:	MDPI AG
ISSN:	1660-4601
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	18 April 2017
Date of Acceptance:	23 March 2016
Last Modified:	04 May 2023 23:29
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/92573

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