Bioenergy generation and simultaneous nitrate and phosphorus removal in a pyrite-based constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell

Xiaoyan Ge; Xin Cao; Xinshan Song; Yuhui Wang; Zhihao Si; Yufeng Zhao; Wenting Wang; Awet Arefe Tesfahunegn

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122350

Bioenergy generation and simultaneous nitrate and phosphorus removal in a pyrite-based constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell

Bioresour Technol. 2020 Jan:296:122350. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122350. Epub 2019 Oct 30.

Authors

Xiaoyan Ge¹, Xin Cao¹, Xinshan Song², Yuhui Wang¹, Zhihao Si¹, Yufeng Zhao¹, Wenting Wang¹, Awet Arefe Tesfahunegn¹

Affiliations

¹ College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China.
² College of Environmental Science and Engineering, State Environmental Protection Engineering Center for Pollution Treatment and Control in Textile Industry, Donghua University, Shanghai 201620, China. Electronic address: newmountain@dhu.edu.cn.

PMID: 31744666
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.122350

Abstract

This study investigates the performance of a pyrite-based constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (PCW-MFC) in chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate (NO₃^--N), total inorganic nitrogen (TIN), and total phosphorus (TP) removal and bioelectricity generation, and explores the mechanisms involved. Four microcosms were used: a constructed wetland (CW), a pyrite-based constructed wetland (PCW), a constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC), and a PCW-MFC. After 180 days' operation, the PCW-MFC exhibited enhanced simultaneous nitrate and phosphorus removal and bioelectricity output. The maximum COD, NO₃^--N, TIN, and TP removal efficiencies in the PCW-MFC were 71.9%, 70.1%, 63.2%, and 91.2%, respectively, for a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 6 h. The mean bioelectricity output of the PCW-MFC was 19.0-28.4% higher than that of the CW-MFC. The nitrate removal rate constant of the PCW-MFC was 1.04 d^-1, which is significantly higher than those of the others. Geobacter and sulfate-reducing bacteria were enriched in the PCW-MFC.

Keywords: Constructed wetland; Microbial fuel cell; Mixotrophic denitrification; Power density; Pyrite.

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Electrodes
Family Characteristics
Iron
Phosphorus
Sulfides
Wastewater
Wetlands

Substances

Sulfides
Waste Water
pyrite
Phosphorus
Iron