Potentiostatic vs galvanostatic operation of a Microbial Electrolysis Cell for ammonium recovery and biogas upgrading

Zeppilli, Marco; Cristiani, Lorenzo; Dell’Armi, Edoardo; Villano, Marianna

doi:10.1016/j.bej.2020.107886

Cited by 14 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…EISBR represents an effective strategy for CAH remediation, , particularly when sustainable fermentable byproducts are used. − An innovative approach used for the control of microbial activity is offered by a bioelectrochemical system (BES) in which the microbial metabolism is stimulated by the presence of a polarized electrode. During the years, many environmental applications of the BES have been developed; − indeed, microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) , have been used for remediation applications of contaminants including CAHs and heavy metals. − Recently, a new membraneless MEC configuration has been successfully adopted for the complete mineralization of PCE through a sequential reductive/oxidative step. The introduction of synthetic groundwater, prepared according to a real groundwater composition, introduced sulfate and nitrate in the reductive reactor, which were responsible for the current increase due to the establishment of sulfate and nitrate bioelectrochemical reduction.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…15−18 An innovative approach used for the control of microbial activity is offered by a bioelectrochemical system (BES) in which the microbial metabolism is stimulated by the presence of a polarized electrode. During the years, many environmental applications of the BES have been developed; 19−22 indeed, microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) 23,24 have been used for remediation applications of contaminants including CAHs and heavy metals. 25−28 Recently, a new membraneless MEC configuration has been successfully adopted for the complete mineralization of PCE through a sequential reductive/oxidative step.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Control of Sulfate and Nitrate Reduction by Setting Hydraulic Retention Time and Applied Potential on a Membraneless Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Perchloroethylene Removal

et al. 2021

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A membraneless microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) has been developed for perchloroethylene (PCE) removal through the reductive dechlorination reaction. The MEC consists of a tubular reactor of 8.24 L equipped with a graphite-granule working electrode which stimulates dechlorinating microorganisms while a graphitegranule cylindrical envelopment contained in a plastic mesh constituted the counter electrode of the MEC. Synthetic PCEcontaminated groundwater has been used as the feeding solution to test the nitrate and sulfate reduction reactions on the MEC performance at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) (4.1, 1.8, and 1.2) and different cathodic potentials [−350, −450, and −650 mV vs standard hydrogen electrode (SHE)]. The HRT decrease from 4.1 to 1.8 d promoted a considerable increase in sulfate removal from 38 ± 11 to 113 ± 26 mg/Ld with a consequent current increase, while a shorter HRT of 1.2 d caused a partial inhibition of sulfate reduction with a consequent current decrease from −99 ± 3 to −52 ± 6 mA. Similarly, the cathodic potential investigation showed a direct correlation of current generation and sulfate removal in which the utilization of a cathodic potential of −350 mV versus SHE allowed for an 80% decrease in the sulfate removal rate with a consequent current decrease from −163 ± 7 to 41 ± 5 mA. The study showed the possibility to mitigate the energy consumption of the process by avoiding side reactions and current generation, through the selection of an appropriate HRT and applied cathodic potential.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Control of Sulfate and Nitrate Reduction by Setting Hydraulic Retention Time and Applied Potential on a Membraneless Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Perchloroethylene Removal

et al. 2021

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“…Furthermore, the energy consumptions for COD and CO 2 removal were calculated. The energy consumptions for CO 2 removal in MEC1 at +300 mV (20 kWh Nm − ³) and +400 mV (20 kWh Nm − ³) vs. Ag/AgCl were considerably higher compared to a previous reported one (4.27 kWh Nm − ³) of a MEC for ammonium recovery and biogas upgrading at an applied anode potential of +200 mV vs. SHE (Zeppilli et al, 2021). If SMO-1 and SMO-2 were used for cathode flushing, the energy consumptions increased to 167 kWh Nm − ³ and 52 kWh Nm − ³, respectively, due to the inhibited transformation of CO 2 into CH 4 .…”

Section: Energetic Evaluationmentioning

confidence: 58%

Bioelectrochemical methanation by utilization of steel mill off-gas in a two-chamber microbial electrolysis cell

Spiess¹,

Conde²,

Kučera

et al. 2022

Front. Bioeng. Biotechnol.

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Carbon capture and utilization has been proposed as one strategy to combat global warming. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) combine the biological conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) with the formation of valuable products such as methane. This study was motivated by the surprising gap in current knowledge about the utilization of real exhaust gas as a CO2 source for methane production in a fully biocatalyzed MEC. Therefore, two steel mill off-gases differing in composition were tested in a two-chamber MEC, consisting of an organic substrate-oxidizing bioanode and a methane-producing biocathode, by applying a constant anode potential. The methane production rate in the MEC decreased immediately when steel mill off-gas was tested, which likely inhibited anaerobic methanogens in the presence of oxygen. However, methanogenesis was still ongoing even though at lower methane production rates than with pure CO2. Subsequently, pure CO2 was studied for methanation, and the cathodic biofilm successfully recovered from inhibition reaching a methane production rate of 10.8 L m−2d−1. Metagenomic analysis revealed Geobacter as the dominant genus forming the anodic organic substrate-oxidizing biofilms, whereas Methanobacterium was most abundant at the cathodic methane-producing biofilms.

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“…Moreover, the rates and efficacy of RD reactions should not be controlled due to the non-selectivity of the ongoing reaction. For instance, MET are an innovative strategy to control the microorganism’s metabolism through the utilization of simple electrochemical devices [ 74 , 75 ].…”

Section: Novel Research and Perspectivesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Combined Strategies to Prompt the Biological Reduction of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: New Sustainable Options for Bioremediation Application

et al. 2021

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Groundwater remediation is one of the main objectives to minimize environmental impacts and health risks. Chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons contamination is prevalent and presents particularly challenging scenarios to manage with a single strategy. Different technologies can manage contamination sources and plumes, although they are usually energy-intensive processes. Interesting alternatives involve in-situ bioremediation strategies, which allow the chlorinated contaminant to be converted into non-toxic compounds by indigenous microbial activity. Despite several advantages offered by the bioremediation approaches, some limitations, like the relatively low reaction rates and the difficulty in the management and control of the microbial activity, can affect the effectiveness of a bioremediation approach. However, those issues can be addressed through coupling different strategies to increase the efficiency of the bioremediation strategy. This mini review describes different strategies to induce the reduction dechlorination reaction by the utilization of innovative strategies, which include the increase or the reduction of contaminant mobility as well as the use of innovative strategies of the reductive power supply. Subsequently, three future approaches for a greener and more sustainable intervention are proposed. In particular, two bio-based materials from renewable resources are intended as alternative, long-lasting electron-donor sources (e.g., polyhydroxyalkanoates from mixed microbial cultures) and a low-cost adsorbent (e.g., biochar from bio-waste). Finally, attention is drawn to novel bio-electrochemical systems that use electric current to stimulate biological reactions.

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Potentiostatic vs galvanostatic operation of a Microbial Electrolysis Cell for ammonium recovery and biogas upgrading

Cited by 14 publications

References 45 publications

Control of Sulfate and Nitrate Reduction by Setting Hydraulic Retention Time and Applied Potential on a Membraneless Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Perchloroethylene Removal

Control of Sulfate and Nitrate Reduction by Setting Hydraulic Retention Time and Applied Potential on a Membraneless Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Perchloroethylene Removal

Bioelectrochemical methanation by utilization of steel mill off-gas in a two-chamber microbial electrolysis cell

Combined Strategies to Prompt the Biological Reduction of Chlorinated Aliphatic Hydrocarbons: New Sustainable Options for Bioremediation Application

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