Evaluation of microbial fuel cell coupled with aeration chamber and bio-cathode for organic matter and nitrogen removal from synthetic domestic wastewater

摘要

For simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal via single stream, a microbial fuel cell (MFC)ncoupled with an aeration chamber and a bio-cathode was investigated. Without catalysts and anynadditional buffer, the MFC produced electricity continuously and the power density reachedn1.3W/m3 at a loading rate of 1.6 kg COD/m3 d. Simultaneously, the COD and the nitrate removalnrate were 1.4 kgCOD/m3 d and 67 g NO3-N/m3 d, respectively. When the hydraulic retention timenwas changed from 6 to 0.75 hours, the power density significantly increased from 0.2 ton10.8W/m3 due to an increase of cathodic potential. When the aeration chamber was removednand the nitrate was injected into the cathode, the power density increased to 3.7W/m3. At a highnrecirculation rate of 10 ml/min, the power density and the nitrate removal rate greatly increasednto 34W/m3 and 294 g NO23n-N/m3 d, respectively.