Decentralized wastewater treatment using a bioelectrochemical system to produce methane and electricity

作者：Castro Cynthia J; Srinivasan Varun; Jack Joshua; Butler Caitlyn S

来源：Journal of Water Sanitation and Hygiene for Development, 2016, 6(4): 613-621.

DOI：10.2166/washdev.2016.190

• hydraulically partitioned
• methanogenesis
• microbial fuel cell
• sanitation
• scale-up
• wastewater treatment

Biological electrochemical systems (BESs) have the potential for decentralized treatment in developing countries. A 46 L, two-chamber, hydraulically partitioned microbial fuel cell (MFC) was designed to replicate low-flow scenarios leaving a composting toilet. The co-evolution of electricity and methane in this MFC was evaluated by testing two distinct waste streams: synthetic feces (Case F) and municipal primary effluent (Case W). Oxidation of organic matter was 76 +/- 24% during Case F and 67 +/- 21% during Case W. Methanogenesis was dominant in the anode, yielding potential power of 3.3 +/- 0.64 W/m(3) during Case F and 0.40 +/- 0.07 W/m(3) during Case W. Electrical power production was marginal, Case F = 4.7 +/- 0.46 and Case W = 10.6 +/- 0.39 mu W/m(3), although potentially useful in energy-limited areas. Complimentary batch cultivations with anode inocula yielded greater methane production in the presence of graphite. 74 +/- 11% more methane was produced with graphite than suspended growth enrichments and 58 +/- 10% more than enrichments with non-conductive plastic beads. The co-production of methane and electricity in an MFC may have utility in decentralized treatment. Further work is needed to optimize power from both electricity and methane.

• 出版日期2016-12