A bio-anodic filter facilitated entrapment, decomposition and in situ oxidation of algal biomass in wastewater effluent

Hassan Mohammadi Khalfbadam; Ka Yu Cheng; Ranjan Sarukkalige; Anna H Kaksonen; Ahmet S Kayaalp; Maneesha P Ginige

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.080

A bio-anodic filter facilitated entrapment, decomposition and in situ oxidation of algal biomass in wastewater effluent

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Sep:216:529-36. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.080. Epub 2016 May 24.

Authors

Hassan Mohammadi Khalfbadam¹, Ka Yu Cheng², Ranjan Sarukkalige³, Anna H Kaksonen⁴, Ahmet S Kayaalp⁵, Maneesha P Ginige⁶

Affiliations

¹ CSIRO Land and Water, Floreat, Western Australia 6014, Australia; Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
² CSIRO Land and Water, Floreat, Western Australia 6014, Australia; School of Engineering and Information Technology, Murdoch University, Western Australia 6150, Australia.
³ Department of Civil Engineering, Curtin University, Bentley, Western Australia 6102, Australia.
⁴ CSIRO Land and Water, Floreat, Western Australia 6014, Australia; School of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, and Oceans Institute, University of Western Australia, Nedlands, Western Australia 6009, Australia.
⁵ Water Corporation of Western Australia, Leederville, Western Australia 6007, Australia.
⁶ CSIRO Land and Water, Floreat, Western Australia 6014, Australia. Electronic address: Maneesha.ginige@csiro.au.

PMID: 27268438
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.05.080

Abstract

This study examined for the first time the use of bioelectrochemical systems (BES) to entrap, decompose and oxidise fresh algal biomass from an algae-laden effluent. The experimental process consisted of a photobioreactor for a continuous production of the algal-laden effluent, and a two-chamber BES equipped with anodic graphite granules and carbon-felt to physically remove and oxidise algal biomass from the influent. Results showed that the BES filter could retain ca. 90% of the suspended solids (SS) loaded. A coulombic efficiency (CE) of 36.6% (based on particulate chemical oxygen demand (PCOD) removed) was achieved, which was consistent with the highest CEs of BES studies (operated in microbial fuel cell mode (MFC)) that included additional pre-treatment steps for algae hydrolysis. Overall, this study suggests that a filter type BES anode can effectively entrap, decompose and in situ oxidise algae without the need for a separate pre-treatment step.

Keywords: Algal biomass; Anodic filter; Bioelectrochemical systems; Suspended solids; Waste stabilisation pond.

MeSH terms

Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis
Biomass*
Carbon
Electrochemical Techniques / instrumentation
Electrochemical Techniques / methods
Electrodes
Equipment Design
Fatty Acids, Volatile / analysis
Fatty Acids, Volatile / metabolism
Hydrolysis
Oxidation-Reduction
Photobioreactors
Waste Disposal, Fluid / instrumentation*
Waste Disposal, Fluid / methods*
Wastewater / chemistry

Substances

Fatty Acids, Volatile
Waste Water
Carbon