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Energy recovery evaluation in an up flow microbial electrolysis coupled anaerobic digestion (ME-AD) reactor: Role of electrode positions and hydraulic retention times

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  • Sangeetha, Thangavel
  • Guo, Zechong
  • Liu, Wenzong
  • Gao, Lei
  • Wang, Ling
  • Cui, Minhua
  • Chen, Chuan
  • Wang, Aijie

Abstract

Microbial catalysed electrochemical systems are intensively used in basic and applied research as a sustainable platform for harnessing energy and generating value added bio-products. Recently more emphasis is being laid on enhancement of AD (Anaerobic Digestion) by integrating ME (Microbial Electrolysis) with it to convert CO2 (Carbon dioxide) directly to CH4 (Methane). This research attempts to shed light on the effects of electrode positioning and arrangement along with hydraulic retention time (HRT), on CH4 generation, and organic removal in novel microbial electrolysis coupled anaerobic digestion (ME-AD) reactors. However, the positioning and placement of electrodes in a ME-AD reactor have not yet been evaluated. Four reactors (S1, S2, S3 and S4) are designed with different electrode arrangements and run in four different HRTs (12, 18, 24 and 36 h) with beer brewery wastewater as the substrate for treatment. The reactors with electrodes arranged at the bottom are better in performance than the reactors with electrodes placed at the top. They have maximum COD, TOC and Carbohydrate removal efficiencies of 92.1%, 64.2% and 98.9% respectively, high methane production rate (MPR) and methane yield (MY) with 304.5 mLCH4/Lreactor/day and 275.8 mL/gCOD respectively and a maximum current generation of 10 mA, all at 36 h HRT. Electrode placement also has crucial roles to play in microbial community prevalence on the electrode biofilm of the reactors. Methanogens and electrogens are well enriched on the electrode biofilms of the reactors with bottom positioned electrodes, revealing the basis behind their maximum organic removal, methane production efficiencies and current generation. This study demonstrates that the optimization of appropriate electrode position and placement in ME-AD reactors is crucial for their performance and development.

Suggested Citation

  • Sangeetha, Thangavel & Guo, Zechong & Liu, Wenzong & Gao, Lei & Wang, Ling & Cui, Minhua & Chen, Chuan & Wang, Aijie, 2017. "Energy recovery evaluation in an up flow microbial electrolysis coupled anaerobic digestion (ME-AD) reactor: Role of electrode positions and hydraulic retention times," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 206(C), pages 1214-1224.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:206:y:2017:i:c:p:1214-1224
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.10.026
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    1. Sangeetha, Thangavel & Chen, Po-Tuan & Yan, Wei-Mon & Huang, K. David, 2020. "Enhancement of air-flow management in Zn-air fuel cells by the optimization of air-flow parameters," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 197(C).
    2. Rousseau, Raphaël & Etcheverry, Luc & Roubaud, Emma & Basséguy, Régine & Délia, Marie-Line & Bergel, Alain, 2020. "Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC): Strengths, weaknesses and research needs from electrochemical engineering standpoint," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    3. Sangeetha, Thangavel & Li, I-Ting & Lan, Tzu-Hsuan & Wang, Chin-Tsan & Yan, Wei-Mon, 2021. "A fluid dynamics perspective on the flow dependent performance of honey comb microbial fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C).
    4. Tang, Raymond Chong Ong & Jang, Jer-Huan & Lan, Tzu-Hsuan & Wu, Jung-Chen & Yan, Wei-Mon & Sangeetha, Thangavel & Wang, Chin-Tsan & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Ong, Zhi Chao, 2020. "Review on design factors of microbial fuel cells using Buckingham's Pi Theorem," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    5. Ceballos-Escalera, Alba & Molognoni, Daniele & Bosch-Jimenez, Pau & Shahparasti, Mahdi & Bouchakour, Salim & Luna, Alvaro & Guisasola, Albert & Borràs, Eduard & Della Pirriera, Monica, 2020. "Bioelectrochemical systems for energy storage: A scaled-up power-to-gas approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).
    6. Lewis, Alex J. & Borole, Abhijeet P., 2019. "Microbial electrolysis cells using complex substrates achieve high performance via continuous feeding-based control of reactor concentrations and community structure," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 240(C), pages 608-616.
    7. Kovalev, Andrey A. & Kovalev, Dmitriy A. & Zhuravleva, Elena A. & Katraeva, Inna V. & Panchenko, Vladimir & Fiore, Ugo & Litti, Yuri V., 2022. "Two-stage anaerobic digestion with direct electric stimulation of methanogenesis: The effect of a physical barrier to retain biomass on the surface of a carbon cloth-based biocathode," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 181(C), pages 966-977.

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