Simultaneous Removal of Phenol and Dissolved Solids from Wastewater Using Multichambered Microbial Desalination Cell.

Microbial desalination cell (MDC) has great potential toward direct electricity generation from wastewater and concurrent desalination through potential difference developed due to microbial activity. Degradation of phenol by isolate Pseudomonas aeruginosa in anodic chamber and simultaneous desalination of water in middle desalination chamber of multichamber MDC is demonstrated in this study. Performance of the MDCs with different anodic inoculum conditions, namely pure culture of P. aeruginosa (MDC-1), 50 % v/v mixture of P. aeruginosa and anaerobic mixed consortia (MDC-2) and anaerobic mixed consortia (MDC-3), was evaluated to compare the phenol degradation in anodic chamber, bioelectricity generation, and simultaneous total dissolved solids (TDS) removal from saline water in desalination chamber. Synergistic effect between P. aeruginosa and mixed anaerobic consortia as inoculum was evident in MDC-2 demonstrating phenol degradation of 90 %, TDS removal of 75 % in 72 h of reaction time along with higher power generation of 27.5 mW/m(2) as compared to MDC-1 (95 %, 64 %, 12.8 mW/m(2), respectively) and MDC-3 (58 %, 52 %, 4.8 mW/m(2), respectively). The results illustrate that the multichamber MDC-2 is effective for simultaneous removal of phenol and dissolved solids contained in industrial wastewaters.

Enhancing waste activated sludge digestion and power production using hypochlorite as catholyte in clayware microbial fuel cell.

Waste activated sludge was digested in anodic compartment of dual chambered clayware microbial fuel cell (MFC). Performance of MFC was evaluated using oxygen (MFC-1) and hypochlorite (MFC-2) as cathodic electron acceptors. Power production of 8.7 W/m(3) was achieved using hypochlorite as catholyte, which was two times higher than using oxygen (4.2 W/m(3)). Total chemical oxygen demand of sludge was reduced by 65.4% and 84.7% in MFC-1 and MFC-2, respectively. Total and volatile suspended solids reductions were higher in MFC-2 (75.8% and 80.2%, respectively) as compared to MFC-1 (66.7% and 76.4%, respectively). Use of hypochlorite demonstrated 3.8 times higher Coulombic efficiency (13.8%) than oxygen. Voltammetric and impedance analysis revealed increase in reduction peak (from 8 to 24 mA) and decreased polarization resistance (from 42.6 to 26.5 Ω). Hypochlorite proved to be better cathodic electron acceptor, supporting rapid sludge digestion within 8 days of retention time and improved power production in MFC.

Multi-chamber microbial desalination cell for improved organic matter and dissolved solids removal from wastewater.

A five-chamber microbial desalination cell (MDC) with anode, cathode, one central desalination chamber and two concentrate chambers separated by ion exchange membranes was operated in batch mode for more than 60 days. The performance of the MDC was evaluated for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, total dissolved solids (TDS) removal and energy production. An average COD removal of 81 ± 2.1% was obtained using acetate-fed wastewater as substrate in the anodic chamber inoculated with mixed anaerobic sludge. TDS removals of 58, 70 and 78% were observed with salt concentration of 8, 20 and 30 g/L, respectively, in the middle desalination chamber. The MDC produced a maximum power output of 16.87 mW/m(2) during polarization. The highest Coulombic efficiency of 12 ± 2.4% was observed in this system using mixed anaerobic sludge as inoculum. The system effectively demonstrated capability for simultaneous organic matter removal and desalination along with power generation.