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A sandwiched denitrifying biocathode in a microbial fuel cell for electricity generation and waste minimization

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Abstract

A denitrifying biocathode in a microbial fuel cell was developed to investigate the replacement of the costly Pt-coated abiotic cathodes for electricity generation. The denitrifying biocathode was sandwiched between the dual-anode systems. The study investigated the performance for simultaneous treatment of wastewater on the anode, biological denitrification on the cathode and the potential recovery of electrical energy. Autotrophic biofilms performed denitrification on the cathode using supplied electrons by the biodegradation of organics on the anode. Graphite granules were used as electrodes for biofilm attachment, and nafion membranes were used as separators between electrodes. The system achieved a volumetric power of 7 ± 0.4 W m−3 net cathodic compartment (NCC) with the simultaneous removal of 229.5 ± 18 mg L−1 COD on anode and 88.9 g m−3 NCC day−1 nitrogen on cathode, respectively. The columbic efficiency for cathodic and anodic reactions was 98.9 ± 0.57 and 23.54 ± 0.87 %, respectively. This is a combined study for domestic wastewater treatment and biological denitrification in a compact MFC reactor. Further optimization of the system is desired to improve its performance and applicability.

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Acknowledgments

Our sincere gratitude to Mr. S.G. Chandrasegaran for his technical assistance during fabrication of microbial fuel cells used in this study. Thanks to Miss Tan Hwee Bee, Miss Lee Leng Leng and Miss Tan Xiaolan to assist us in operating the equipments used for different analysis. This work was supported by a Grant from the Environment & Water and Industry Development Council, Singapore (MEWR 651/06/159).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 33, Al-Khod, Muscat, 123, Sultanate of Oman

    A. Al-Mamun & M. S. Baawain

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Singapore, 9 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117576, Singapore

    O. Lefebvre & H. Y. Ng

Authors
  1. A. Al-Mamun
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  2. O. Lefebvre
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  3. M. S. Baawain
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  4. H. Y. Ng
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to A. Al-Mamun.

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Al-Mamun, A., Lefebvre, O., Baawain, M.S. et al. A sandwiched denitrifying biocathode in a microbial fuel cell for electricity generation and waste minimization. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13, 1055–1064 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-0943-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-0943-1

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