Recovery of biohydrogen in a single-chamber microbial electrohydrogenesis cell using liquid fraction of pressed municipal solid waste (LPW) as substrate

Abstract

The use of liquid fraction of pressed municipal solid waste (LPW) for hydrogen production was evaluated via electrohydrogenesis in a single-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). The highest hydrogen production (0.38 ± 0.09 m 3 m -3 d -1 and 30.94 ± 7.03 mmol g -1 COD added ) was achieved at an applied voltage of 3.0 V and pH 5.5, increasing by 2.17fold than those done at the same voltage without pH adjustment (pH 7.0).Electrohydrogenesis was accomplished by anodic oxidation of fermentative end-products (i.e. acetate, as well as propionate and butyrate after their acetification), with overall hydrogen recovery of 49.5 ± 11.3% of COD added . These results affirm for the first time that electrohydrogenesis can be a noteworthy alternative for hydrogen recovery from LPW and simultaneous organics removal. Electrohydrogenesis efficiency of this system has potential to improve provided that electron recycling, electromethanogenesis and deposition of nonconductive aggregates on cathode surface, etc. are effectively controlled.

Microbial electrochemical systems for sustainable biohydrogen production: Surveying the experiences from a start-up viewpoint

“…Nevertheless, the application of external (DC) power sources to provide sufficient voltage is still a widespread alternative for start-up MECs, and its value was proven to affect biohydrogen recovery in MEC using recalcitrant substrate e.g. liquid fraction of municipal solid waste in a recent study by Zhen et al [122]. In another example, Heidrich et al [87] described (>2 months) anode-biofilm acclimation method, during which the externally supplemented voltage was step-wise increased until decent H 2 gas production could be observed.…”

Continuous micro-current stimulation to upgrade methanolic wastewater biodegradation and biomethane recovery in an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor

“…Besides, the part of the granules sampled from the reactors (ultrasonication at 60 W for 5 min) were subjected to Fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) analysis. The samples were pretreated according to Zhen et al (2016bZhen et al ( , 2016c. Fluorescence labels of the oligonucleotide probes used here included ARC915 (Archaea, GTGCTCCCCCGCCAATTCCT) (Raskin et al, 1994) and EUB338 (Bacteria, GCTGCCTCCCGTAGGAGT) (Daims et al, 1999).…”

Architectural engineering of bioelectrochemical systems from the perspective of polymeric membrane separators: A comprehensive update on recent progress and future prospects

“…In addition, transfer of cathode side products to the anode electrode can lead to undesired recycle mechanism, i.e. when H 2 is converted by anode-respiring exoelectrogenic bacteria or by other (non-electro-active) H 2 -scavengers such as methanogens and homoacetogens, causing in such a way the deterioration of cathodic H 2 recovery, H 2 yield/productivity and the potential appearance of parasitic current (virtually enhancing the CE) [30,31]. Nonetheless, this challenge is more pronounced in membrane-less (single-chamber) BES constructions.…”