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Utilizing a Fe3O4 Magnetite Nanoparticle for Anode Modification in a Microbial Desalination Cell to Treat Saltwater

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Abstract

The microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a bio-electrochemical system that exhibits the ability to oxidize organic compounds, produce energy, and decrease the saline concentrations within the desalination chamber. The selective removal of ions from the desalination chamber is significantly influenced by the anion and cation exchange membranes. In this study, a three-chamber microbial desalination cell was developed to treat seawater using a synthesize Fe3O4 magnetite nanoparticle (MNP)-modified anode. The impact of different performance parameters, such as temperature, pH, and concentrations of NPs, has been investigated in order to assess the performance of three-chamber MDCs in terms of energy recovery and salt removal. The evaluation criteria of the system included multiple factors such as chemical oxygen demand (COD), Coulombic efficiency (CE), desalination efficiency, as well as system aspects including voltage generation and power density. The highest COD% removal efficiency was 74% at 37 °C, pH = 7, and 30 g/L salt concentration with an optimized NPs concentration of 2.0 mg/cm2 impregnated on anode. The maximum Coulombic efficiency was 10.3% with the maximum power density of 4.3 W/m3. The effect of the nanoparticle concentration impregnated on the anode was clarified by the primary factor of analysis. This research has revealed consistent patterns in the enhancement of voltage generation, COD, and Coulombic efficiencies when incorporating higher concentrations of nanoparticles on the anode at a certain point.

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Acknowledgements

The authors extend their appreciation to Taif university, Saudi Arabia, for supporting this work through project number (TU-DSPP-2024-02).

Funding

The research was funded by Taif University, Saudi Arabia, Project No. (TU-DSPP-2024-02).

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Author notes

  1. Shruti Singh and Ankit Kumar contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Life Sciences, School of Basic Science and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, U.P, India

    Shruti Singh, Ankit Kumar & Soumya Pandit

  2. Center for Global Health Research, Saveetha Medical College and Hospitals, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, India

    Soumya Pandit & Arpita Roy

  3. Department of Biotechnology, University of Engineering & Management, University Area, Plot No. III - B/5, New Town, Action Area - III, Kolkata, West Bengal, 700160, India

    Dibyajit Lahiri

  4. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm Al-Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia

    Saad Alghamdi

  5. Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, Taif University, P.O. Box 11099, Taif, 21944, Saudi Arabia

    Mazen Almehmadi, Ahad Amer Alsaiari & Mamdouh Allahyani

  6. Centre for Research impact and Outcome, Chitkara University, Rajpura, Punjab, 140401, India

    Arpita Roy

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  1. Shruti Singh
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Contributions

SP and AR conceptualized work. AK, SS, SP, and AR designed and wrote the initial manuscript draft. DL, SA, MA, AAA, and MA prepared the figures and tables, edited, and revised the manuscript critically. The final manuscript has been approved by all the authors.

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Correspondence to Soumya Pandit.

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Singh, S., Kumar, A., Pandit, S. et al. Utilizing a Fe3O4 Magnetite Nanoparticle for Anode Modification in a Microbial Desalination Cell to Treat Saltwater. Appl Biochem Biotechnol (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12010-024-04925-3

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