Abstract
The aim of this work was to study the effect of pH on electricity production and contaminant dynamics using microbial fuel cells (MFCs). To investigate these effects, an air-cathode MFC was used to treat urban wastewater by adjusting the pH between 6 and 10. The short-term tests showed that the highest power production (0.66W·m-3) was at pH 9.5. The MFC operation in continuous control mode for 30days and at the optimal pH improved the performance of the cell relative to power generation to 1.8W·m-3. Organic matter removal (77% of influent COD) and physical ammonium loss were directly influenced by pH and followed the same behavior as the power generation. At a pH higher than the optimal one, anodic bacteria were affected, and power generation ceased. However, biological nitrogen processes and phosphorus dynamics were independent of the exoelectrogenic bacteria.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 9594-9599 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | Bioresource Technology |
Volume | 101 |
Issue number | 24 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Dec 2010 |
Keywords
- Domestic wastewater
- Microbial fuel cells
- Nutrients
- Organic matter
- PH
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Bioengineering
- Environmental Engineering
- Waste Management and Disposal