Scaling up a novel denitrifying microbial fuel cell with an oxic-anoxic two stage biocathode

A scaled up microbial fuel cell （MFC） of a 50 L volume was set up with an oxic-anoxic two-stage biocathode and activated semicoke packed electrodes to achieve simultaneous power generation and nitrogen and organic matter removals. An average maximum power density of 43.1 W·m^-3 was obtained in batch operating mode. By adjusting the two extemal resistances, the denitrification in the A-MFC and power production in the O-MFC could be enhanced. In continuous mode, when the hydraulic retention times were set at 6 h, 8 h and 12 h, the removal efficiencies of COD, NHf-N and total nitrogen （TN） were higher than 95%, 97%, and 84%, respectively. Meanwhile the removal loads for COD, NH4^＋-N and TN were10, 0.37 and 0.4 kg·（m^3·d）^-1, respectively.     

高硫燃料煤及碳酸盐分布区硫碳在水岩气界面上的循环

高硫燃料煤烟气中的ＣＯ２是大气ＣＯ２的一个重要来源。烟气中的ＳＯ２是导致南方酸雨的主要原因＾「１，２」，酸雨增强了地表水地下水对石灰岩的溶蚀，间接地释放出ＣＯ２，研究表明，：Ｓ，Ｃ在自然界面上循环，可通过酸雨作用于碳酸盐岩石来，我国南方高硫燃料煤所形成的酸雨对石灰岩地区每年将间接释放出（６．４８－６．７３）×１０＾１０ｍｏｌＣＯ２，从全球范围来看，受酸雨影响的石灰岩溶蚀量是温室气体ＣＯ２的一个不容     

混合菌群生物燃料电池的产电机理与特性

利用厌氧污泥为接种源构建双室微生物燃料电池(Microbial fuel cell,MFC),研究其电子传递机制,并考察其底物利用谱及阴极电子受体对产电性能的影响.结果表明:该MFC主要通过生物膜机制实现电子从有机物到固体电极的传递过程.该混合菌MFC的底物利用谱范围广泛,单糖、二糖、小分子有机酸等有机物均可作为电子供体产电,其中以蔗糖和乳糖为底物产电效果较好,最大功率密度分别为69.69 mW/m2和60.75 mW/m2;而以乙醇为底物时,COD负荷最高,达123.55 mg L-1d-1.阴极不同电子受体对混合菌群MFC的产电性能也有显著影响,其中以KMnO4为电子受体电池性能最好,最大功率密度达1 396.74 mW/m2.     

A hybrid fuel cell for water purification and simultaneously electricity generation

● A novel hybrid fuel cell (F-HFC) was fabricated. ● Pollutant degradation and synchronous electricity generation occurred in F-HFC. ● BiOCl-NH₄PTA photocatalyst greatly improved electron transfer and charge separation. ● Pollutant could act as substrate directly in ambient conditions without pretreatment. ● The mechanism of the F-HFC was proposed and elucidated. The development of highly efficient energy conversion technologies to extract energy from wastewater is urgently needed, especially in facing of increasing energy and environment burdens. Here, we successfully fabricated a novel hybrid fuel cell with BiOCl-NH₄PTA as photocatalyst. The polyoxometalate (NH₄PTA) act as the acceptor of photoelectrons and could retard the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, which lead to superior photocatalytic degradation. By utilizing BiOCl-NH₄PTA as photocatalysts and Pt/C air-cathode, we successfully constructed an electron and mass transfer enhanced photocatalytic hybrid fuel cell with flow-through field (F-HFC). In this novel fuel cell, dyes and biomass could be directly degraded and stable power output could be obtained. About 87 % of dyes could be degraded in 30 min irradiation and nearly 100 % removed within 90 min. The current density could reach up to ~267.1 μA/cm²; with maximum power density (P_max) of ~16.2 μW/cm² with Rhodamine B as organic pollutant in F-HFC. The power densities were 9.0 μW/cm², 12.2 μW/cm², and 13.9 μW/cm² when using methyl orange (MO), glucose and starch as substrates, respectively. This hybrid fuel cell with BiOCl-NH₄PTA composite fulfills the purpose of decontamination of aqueous organic pollutants and synchronous electricity generation. Moreover, the novel design cell with separated photodegradation unit and the electricity generation unit could bring potential practical application in water purification and energy recovery from wastewater.     

填料型微生物燃料电池产电特性的研究

将石墨和碳毡作为阳极填料组装成填料型微生物燃料电池,其启动期在1 d左右,低于平板型微生物燃料电池的启动期.碳毡作为填料时,微生物燃料电池的最大产电功率密度为1 502 mW/m2(37.6 W/m3),优于石墨作为填料的MFC.将碳毡与碳纸烧结一体以提高填料型微生物燃料电池阳极的导电性,与平板型微生物燃料电池相比,其面积内阻从0.071 Ω穖2下降到0.051 Ω穖2,最大电流密度从3 000 mA上升到8 000 mA,最大产电功率密度从1 100 mW/m2(27.5 W/m3)上升到2426 mW/m2(60.7W/m3),阳极电势平均下降100 mV.循环流量影响填料型微生物燃料电池的产电能力,当流量低于1 mL/min时,其产电功率密度随流速降低而下降.填料型微生物燃料电池在外电阻为600 Ω下长期稳定运行30 d以上,其库仑效率约为10.6%.     

Characteristics and removal mechanism of the precursors of N-chloro-2,2-dichloroacetamide in a drinking water treatment process at Taihu Lake

• N-Cl-DCAM, an emerging N-DBP in drinking water was investigated. • A new BAC has a better removal efficiency for N-Cl-DCAM precursors than an old BAC. • N-Cl-DCAM precursors are more of low molecular weight and non-polar. • Adsorption of GAC plays a major role in removal of N-Cl-DCAM precursors by an O₃-BAC. N-chloro-2,2-dichloroacetamide (N-Cl-DCAM) is an emerging nitrogenous disinfection by-product (N-DBP) which can occur in drinking water. In this study, an analytical method based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to validate the concentration of N-Cl-DCAM, which was found to be 1.5 mg/L in the effluent of a waterworks receiving raw water from Taihu Lake, China. The changes of N-Cl-DCAM formation potential (N-Cl-DCAMFP) in the drinking water treatment process and the removal efficiency of its precursors in each unit were evaluated. Non-polar organics accounted for the majority of N-Cl-DCAM precursors, accounting for 70% of the N-Cl-DCAM FP. The effect of conventional water treatment processes on the removal of N-Cl-DCAM precursors was found to be unsatisfactory due to their poor performance in the removal of low molecular weight (MW) or non-polar organics. In the ozonation integrated with biological activated carbon (O₃-BAC) process, the ozonation had little influence on the decrease of N-Cl-DCAM FP. The removal efficiency of precursors by a new BAC filter, in which the granular activated carbon (GAC) had only been used for four months was higher than that achieved by an old BAC filter in which the GAC had been used for two years. The different removal efficiencies of precursors were mainly due to the different adsorption capacities of GAC for individual precursors. Low MW or non-polar organics were predominantly removed by GAC, rather than biodegradation by microorganisms attached to GAC particles.     

Bioelectricity generation from three ornamental plants: Chlorophytum comosum,Chasmanthe floribunda and Papyrus diffusus

In the present study, bioelectricity generation using a living plant in soil was achieved by converting solar energy into electricity on the principles of plant photosynthesis. The plants Chlorophytum comosum, Chasmanthe floribunda and Papyrus diffuses were used in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and produced, respectively, a maximum current of 25, 31 and 19 mA/m², without the use of any nutrient or membrane. In this study, the importance of light was demonstrated by the high current values generated during daytime, and the microorganisms at the anode-rhizosphere interface were examined.     

Knowledge-based decision-making model for the management of transit system alternative fuel infrastructures

Energy-efficient and environmentally sustainable public transportation systems are within the solution space provided by alternative fuel vehicles. Given the large revenue service potential of alternative fuel buses within the urban space, they are good candidates for emissions reductions when they are employed as part of a comprehensive urban transit planning process. The determination of the most appropriate alternative fuel bus asset for a given application is not necessarily that straightforward. The typical bus fleet is developed over a broad time horizon with each asset being acquired to meet a certain agency need or to close a perceived gap in the delivery of public transportation service. Therefore, as new assets are considered, it is critical for the fleet manager to consider as many factors of the fleet infrastructure to better ensure the positive impact that the newly acquired asset will have on fleet performance relative to the overall service goals and objectives of the fleet. This study investigates a broad range of alternative fuel bus technologies and the associated factors that will inform the decision-making process. Further, this work utilizes the inventory and understanding of the range of technology factors and leverages the perspective knowledge of industry experts on each of these factors to develop an expert systems decision-making philosophy to aid in the adoption of industry standards, best practices, consistency and sustainability in fleet asset management over time.     

Self-ignition in stone wool insulation contaminated with fatty acid (fundamentals,case study,analysis methodology)

A combination of a residual film of flammable organic substance, air and porous structures like insulation material (e.g. stone wool) may result in a fire. The initiating self-heating process depends on the substance (reactivity, volatility), amount of accumulated liquid, volume and temperature. Specific information is given for application and extension of the Thomas criterion with a 2nd order reaction. The experimental part includes new experimental techniques to determine heat transfer and formal reaction kinetic data. The applied self-ignition temperature (SIT) simulation model relies on liquid film volume and not on liquid film surface reaction. As a further result of the studies detailed working procedure of three simplified methodologies for estimation of SITs in technical scale are presented. New techniques to determine parameters necessary for SIT prediction, especially in combination with Methodology III, have the power to reduce the costs for estimating the SIT up to 80%.