Active H-2 Harvesting Prevents Methanogenesis in Microbial Electrolysis Cells

作者：Lu, Lu; Hou, Dianxun; Wang, Xin; Jas**y, David; Ren, Zhiyong Jason^*

来源：Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 2016, 3(8): 286-290.

DOI：10.1021/acs.estlett.6b00209

• HYDROGEN-PRODUCTION
• SYNTROPHIC INTERACTIONS
• ARCHAEAL COMMUNITIES
• WASTE-WATER
• TEMPERATURE
• BACTERIAL
• MEMBRANE

Undesired H-2 sinks, including methanogenesis, are a serious issue faced by microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for high-rate H-2 production. Different from current top-down approaches to methanogenesis inhibition that showed limited success, this study found active harvesting can eliminate the source (H-2) from all H-2 consumption mechanisms via rapid H-2 extraction using a gas-permeable hydrophobic membrane and vacuum. Active harvesting completely prevented CH4 production and led to H-2 yields (2.62-3.39 mol of H-2/mol of acetate) much higher than that of the control using traditional spontaneous release (0.79 mol of H-2/mol of acetate). In addition, existing CH4 production in the control MEC was stopped once the switch to active H-2 harvesting was made. Active harvesting also increased current density by 36%, which increased operation efficiency and facilitated organic removal. Energy quantification shows the process was energy-positive, as the H-2 energy produced via active harvesting was 220 +/- 10% of external energy consumption, and a high purity of H-2 can be obtained.

• 出版日期2016-8
• 单位南开大学