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Low-temperature treatment of domestic sewage by electrokinetic-based reactor

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Abstract

In this work, an electrokinetic-based (EK) reactor was coupled with a biodegradation process to improve the performance of treatment facilities in cold regions. Subsequently, the effects of electric current density (CD) and temperature on chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrient removal were investigated in a series of EK bioreactors. Moreover, the potential electro-stimulation of microbial biomass was evaluated. In this experiment, the treatment of synthetic wastewater at different operational temperatures (8, 13, and 20 °C), CD ranging between 1 and 2 mA/cm2, and electrical exposure regimes were performed. The results indicated that, at the lower temperature of 8 °C, the EK-based bioreactor with a CD of 1.5 mA/cm2 at 60 s–ON/180 s–OFF contact mode achieved superior removal efficiencies of impurities over the control bioreactor. The removal of COD, \({\mathrm{NH}}_{4}^{+}-\mathrm{N}\), and \({\mathrm{PO}}_{4}-\mathrm{P}\) was higher than the control bioreactor by 32.6%, 75.9%, and 77% respectively. The outcomes also demonstrated that a CD of 1 mA/cm2 with an operation mode of 60 s-ON/300 s-OFF was very effective in impurities removal at 20 °C leading to lower energy consumption and treatment costs. Furthermore, it was suggested that the adequate CD application induced microbial biomass responsible for COD and \({\mathrm{NH}}_{4}^{+}\) bio-utilization. Overall, the alternative EK approach presented in this work could improve the degradation rate by electrically stimulated biomass and optimize the performance of existing treatment plants operated at cold temperatures. Finally, this work establishes a viable approach for either retrofitting existing processes or constructing new wastewater facilities.

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Data availability

All data produced or analyzed during this work are integrated in this published article.

Abbreviations

ATP:

Adenosine triphosphate

CD:

Current density

COD:

Chemical oxygen demand

CFU:

Colony forming unit

DC:

Direct current

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

DNA:

Deoxyribonucleic acid

EK:

Electrokinetic

ET:

Electron transfer

ISA:

Ionic strength adjustor

MEBR:

Membrane electro-bioreactor

MLSS:

Mixed liquor suspended solids

MLVSS:

Mixed liquor volatile suspended solids

NRR:

Nitrogen removal rate

OUR:

Oxygen uptake rate

PCA:

Plate count agar

PEF:

Pulsed electric field

PAOs:

Polyphosphate-accumulating organisms

T:

Temperature

WWTPS :

Wastewater treatment plants

mL:

Milliliter

A/m2 :

Ampere/square meter

mA:

Milliampere

mA/cm2 :

Milliampere/square centimeter

V/cm:

Volt/centimeter

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  1. Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Isra University, Amman, Jordan

    Abdelmajeed Adam Lagum

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Lagum, A.A. Low-temperature treatment of domestic sewage by electrokinetic-based reactor. Biomass Conv. Bioref. (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-023-04034-x

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