Performance of a semi-pilot tubular microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) under several hydraulic retention times and applied voltages

Bioresour Technol. 2013 Oct:146:63-69. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.07.020. Epub 2013 Jul 11.

Abstract

The influence of applied voltage and hydraulic retention time on the performance of a semi-pilot modular tubular wastewater-fed microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with high scalability was investigated. A chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 80%, as well as an energy consumption of 0.3-1.1 Wh g-COD(-1) removed, were achieved. Hydrogen production was limited by the reduced amounts of organic matter fed into the reactor, the poor performance of the cathode, and COD consuming by non electrogenic microorganisms. The presence of COD consuming microorganism that do not contribute to electrogenic metabolism severely affected the MEC performance.

Keywords: Domestic wastewater; Hydrogen production; Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC).

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / metabolism
  • Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
  • Bioreactors
  • Carbon / chemistry
  • DNA / analysis
  • Electrodes
  • Electrolysis*
  • Equipment Design
  • Gases
  • Hydrogen / chemistry
  • Hydrogen / metabolism
  • Oxygen / chemistry
  • Time Factors
  • Waste Disposal, Fluid
  • Wastewater
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical / analysis*
  • Water Purification / methods*

Substances

  • Gases
  • Waste Water
  • Water Pollutants, Chemical
  • Carbon
  • Hydrogen
  • DNA
  • Oxygen