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Biochar Based Microbial Fuel Cell for Enhanced Wastewater Treatment and Nutrient Recovery

Author

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  • Tyler M. Huggins

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

  • Albert Latorre

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

  • Justin C. Biffinger

    (US Naval Research Laboratory, 4555 Overlook Ave. SW., Code 6100, Washington, DC 20375, USA)

  • Zhiyong Jason Ren

    (Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, CO 80309, USA)

Abstract

Waste-wood derived biochar was evaluated for the first time as both an anode and cathode material, simultaneously, in an overflow style microbial fuel cell (MFC) using actual industrial wastewater. Results show that the average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 95% with a reduction rate of 0.53 kg·COD·m −1 ·d −1 in closed operation mode. The ammonia and phosphorous reductions from wastewater was 73% and 88%, respectively. Stable power production was observed with a peak power density measured at 6 W/m 3 . Preliminary contributions of physical, biological, and electrochemical COD removals were evaluated, and the results show such combined mechanisms give BC an advantage for MFC applications. Nutrient recovery data showed high levels of macronutrients adsorbed onto the spent biochar electrodes, and phosphorus concentration increased from 0.16 g·kg −1 in raw BC to up to 1.9 g·kg −1 in the cathode. These findings highlight the use of biochar as electrodes in MFCs to facilitate simultaneous wastewater treatment and power production with additional agronomic benefits.

Suggested Citation

  • Tyler M. Huggins & Albert Latorre & Justin C. Biffinger & Zhiyong Jason Ren, 2016. "Biochar Based Microbial Fuel Cell for Enhanced Wastewater Treatment and Nutrient Recovery," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-10, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:2:p:169-:d:63782
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Dominic Woolf & James E. Amonette & F. Alayne Street-Perrott & Johannes Lehmann & Stephen Joseph, 2010. "Sustainable biochar to mitigate global climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 1(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Zhiyong Jason Ren & Art K. Umble, 2016. "Recover wastewater resources locally," Nature, Nature, vol. 529(7584), pages 25-25, January.
    3. Wen-Wei Li & Han-Qing Yu & Bruce E. Rittmann, 2015. "Chemistry: Reuse water pollutants," Nature, Nature, vol. 528(7580), pages 29-31, December.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Kamali, Mohammadreza & Guo, Yutong & Aminabhavi, Tejraj M. & Abbassi, Rouzbeh & Dewil, Raf & Appels, Lise, 2023. "Pathway towards the commercialization of sustainable microbial fuel cell-based wastewater treatment technologies," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    3. Malyan, Sandeep K. & Kumar, Smita S. & Fagodiya, Ram Kishor & Ghosh, Pooja & Kumar, Amit & Singh, Rajesh & Singh, Lakhveer, 2021. "Biochar for environmental sustainability in the energy-water-agroecosystem nexus," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 149(C).
    4. Ali Abdelaal & Vittoria Benedetti & Audrey Villot & Francesco Patuzzi & Claire Gerente & Marco Baratieri, 2023. "Innovative Pathways for the Valorization of Biomass Gasification Char: A Systematic Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-24, May.

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