A Hybrid Microbial Fuel Cell Membrane Bioreactor with a Conductive Ultrafiltration Membrane Biocathode for Wastewater Treatment

A new hybrid, air-biocathode microbial fuel cell-membrane bioreactor (MFC-MBR) system was developed to achieve simultaneous wastewater treatment and ultrafiltration to produce water for direct reclamation. The combined advantages of this system were achieved by using an electrically conductive ultra...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Environmental science & technology 2013-10, Vol.47 (20), p.11821-11828
Main Authors: Malaeb, Lilian, Katuri, Krishna P, Logan, Bruce E, Maab, Husnul, Nunes, S. P, Saikaly, Pascal E
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Applied sciences
Bacteria - isolation & purification
Bioelectric Energy Sources
Biological and medical sciences
Biological treatment of waters
Bioreactors
Biotechnology
Catalysts
Chemical oxygen demand
Conductivity
Electric Conductivity
Electrochemical Techniques - instrumentation
Electrodes
Environment and pollution
Exact sciences and technology
Fuel cells
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Membranes
Membranes, Artificial
Nanotubes, Carbon - ultrastructure
Other wastewaters
Pollution
Ultrafiltration - instrumentation
Waste Water - microbiology
Wastewaters
Water Purification - instrumentation
Water treatment
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:A new hybrid, air-biocathode microbial fuel cell-membrane bioreactor (MFC-MBR) system was developed to achieve simultaneous wastewater treatment and ultrafiltration to produce water for direct reclamation. The combined advantages of this system were achieved by using an electrically conductive ultrafiltration membrane as both the cathode and the membrane for wastewater filtration. The MFC-MBR used an air-biocathode, and it was shown to have good performance relative to an otherwise identical cathode containing a platinum catalyst. With 0.1 mm prefiltered domestic wastewater as the feed, the maximum power density was 0.38 W/m2 (6.8 W/m3) with the biocathode, compared to 0.82 W/m2 (14.5 W/m3) using the platinum cathode. The permeate quality from the biocathode reactor was comparable to that of a conventional MBR, with removals of 97% of the soluble chemical oxygen demand, 97% NH3–N, and 91% of total bacteria (based on flow cytometry). The permeate turbidity was
ISSN:0013-936X
1520-5851
DOI:10.1021/es4030113