Multi-effects of gravity and geometric flow channel on the performance of continuous microbial fuel cells

Nowadays microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a rapidly evolving field and studied extensively because of their simultaneous dual functions of decomposing organic waste matter and eco-power generation. Now, facing their low power density, multiple effects including various gravity conditions ranging from 0 G to 2 G and three kinds of geometric flow channel (serpentine channel, serpentine tapered channel and bio-mixer channel) in MFCs were studied because of their ability to significantly impact the performance of MFCs.Numerical simulation technology, with its significant lessening of time needed and saving experimental costs required was used in this study. Results show that a better power performance was found at a condition of 0.125 G and Reynolds number Re = 41.3 regardless of flow channel in MFCs. In addition, the bio-mixer channel of the flow channels in MFCs will have a better performance than the other two channels because of its lower pressure drop and higher power generation. These findings will provide useful information on enhancing the performance of MFCs, especially with the application of low gravity conditions in the future.     

Effects of chaotic acclimation applied on performance of microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are one of the bioreactors that produce electrons by metabolizing substrate from microorganisms, and have the ability to both degrade waste solution and produce electrons. Recently, the activity of microorganisms has limited the power performance of MFCs. Chaos has been used to stimulate activity of microorganisms, but it has not been used previously in MFCs. In this study, three types of acclimations – native acclimation (NA), MFC acclimation (MFCA), and MFC embedded with chaotic electric field acclimation (CMFCA) – are applied to realize their performance and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in MFCs, respectively. Results show that the current density and the power density of CMFCA were improved by 1.33 and 1.25 times than MFCA, and the COD removal of CMFCA reached 85% after five days. In addition, the acclimation stage at the condition of CMFCA appeared after 10 days, but was not found for the MFCA system. These observations would provide positive information for improving the performance of MCFs in the future.     

微生物燃料电池处理污染废水的研究进展

微生物燃料电池(MFC)在处理污染废水的同时还能产生电能,成为环境和能源领域的研究热点之一。结合典型MFC结构,分别介绍了阳极室、阴极室和中间室所具有的不同功能,比较分析了各个室去除污染物的基本原理和当前的研究进展,讨论了MFC应用于实际工程中存在的问题,展望并提出了未来MFC的发展目标及发展方向。     

好氧MBR处理垃圾渗滤液中膜面优势污染物及污染阻力

将好氧MBR处理垃圾渗滤液装置中的污泥混合液进行合理分离,通过死端过滤实验和膜污染阻力测定实验,以确定MBR中造成膜污染的优势污染物和优势污染阻力。实验结果表明,上清液中的胶体物质和大分子粘性有机物是造成膜污染的优势污染物;膜污染阻力主要由凝胶极化阻力和外部污染阻力构成,二者之和占总污染阻力的95%以上。     

微生物燃料电池与好氧堆肥协同处理餐厨垃圾

实验主张将餐厨固体垃圾和餐厨废水分开处理,并研究微生物燃料电池(MFC)作为餐厨废水和堆肥渗滤液处理工艺的可行性,通过调节不同的有机负荷,分析其生物产电的潜力和处理效率。对于餐厨废水而言,3 000 mg/L是较为理想的处理浓度,输出电压最高,始终维持在0.5 V以上;高于此浓度时电压输出特性与底物浓度呈现反相关,输出电压略低于0.5 V。极化曲线,电化学阻抗分析等也都表明3 000 mg/L是较为理想的处理浓度。而且在各种浓度下经MFC处理后的餐厨废水去除率均在90%左右,出水COD均低于400 mg/L。至于堆肥渗滤液,虽然在产电性能、去除效果上较餐厨废水稍差一些,但整体上与餐厨废水呈现出相似的规律。以上结果表明,餐厨垃圾中的废水可以通过MFC有效的去除和实现能量的回收。     

微生物燃料电池对苯酚的降解及其产电性能

构建了单室空气阴极微生物燃料电池(MFC),研究了苯酚含量对以苯酚和葡萄糖为底物的MFC产电性能及苯酚去除率的影响。实验结果表明:当CODB(苯酚贡献的COD)为0时,MFC的运行周期为36 h,最大输出电压为560 m V,最大功率密度为489 m W/m2;CODB为1 000 mg/L时,MFC的运行周期为54 h,最大输出电压为436 m V,最大功率密度为98 m W/m2;当CODB为200 mg/L时,MFC的COD去除率、苯酚去除率和库伦效率(CE)均达到最大,分别为89.7%、99.9%和7.2%,同时,MFC的阳极生物膜产生的氧化峰电流最高,表明在葡萄糖-苯酚双底物对微生物的协同作用下,MFC的阳极生物膜氧化性最强;随着CODB的增大,COD去除率、苯酚去除率和CE均逐渐减小,说明苯酚的抑制作用导致微生物活性降低。     

混合表面活性剂-浊点萃取法测定沉积物中多环芳烃的含量

以混合型表面活性剂（十二烷基硫酸钠（SDS）和对叔辛基苯基聚己二醇醚（Triton X-114））为萃取剂,采用浊点萃取法萃取沉积物中的15种多环芳烃（PAHs）,并利用HPLC技术测定15种PAHs的含量。实验结果表明,当混合型表面活性剂的加入量 3％（w）、混合型表面活性剂中SDS含量 50%（φ）、Na2SO4含量 8％（w）、萃取温度 60 ℃、超声萃取时间 10 min 时,15种PAHs的线性关系良好,r=0.998 9~0.999 7,检出限0.4~8.2 μg/L,加标回收率71.22%~97.36%,相对标准偏差0.92%~4.36%（n=6）。     

Removal of mixed pesticides from drinking water system by photodegradation using suspended and immobilized TiO2

Lindane (1α, 2α, 3β, 4α, 5α, 6β-hexachloro cyclohexane), methyl parathion (O,O-dimethyl-O-4-nitrophenyl phosphorothioate) and dichlorvos (2,2-dichlorovinyl-O-O-dimethyl phosphate) are removed from water individually and as a mixture by photo degradation using suspended and immobilized forms of TiO₂ (Degussa P-25). Studies were conducted to optimize the coating thickness of immobilized photo catalyst. The rate of degradation of pesticides was compared in both suspended and immobilized TiO₂ systems. Degradation studies of mixed pesticides were carried out with low concentrations (1.0 and 2.5 mg/L) of pesticides. Only three intermediate byproducts such as methyl paraoxon, O,O,O-trimethyl phosphonic thionate and p-nitrophenol were observed during the methyl parathion degradation in suspended, immobilized TiO₂ systems and mixed pesticides degradation studies. At the end of the reaction methyl parathion and its by-products were completely degraded. During lindane degradation hexachloro cyclohexane, pentachloro cyclohexane, hexachloro benzene, 1-hydroxy 2,3,4,5,6-chlorocyclohexane, 1-hydroxy 2,3,4,5,6-chlorobenzene, pentachloro cyclopentadiene, 1,2,3,4,5-hydroxy cyclopentene and 1,2,3-hydroxy cyclobutane were identified in suspended and immobilized TiO₂ systems, whereas only hexachloro cyclohexane, pentachloro cyclohexane, hexachloro benzene and pentachloro cyclopentadiene were observed during mixed pesticides degradation. No intermediate by-product was observed during the photo degradation of dichlorvos. Langmuir-Hinshelwood pseudo first order kinetic equation showed that there was not much change in the rates of degradation in both suspended and immobilized TiO₂ systems irrespective of the pesticide. During mixed pesticides degradation, the degradation pattern was not similar to that of single pesticide.     

Development of a prefabricated treatment plant for diluted pig wastewater

Abstract

In order to develop a prefabricated treatment and reuse plant for diluted pig wastewater, an entrapped‐mixed‐microbial‐cell (EMMC) process was evaluated for its process performance and economic analysis. At the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 30 hrs (loading rate of 1.0 g TCOD/L/d) and intermittent aeration of 1 hr of aeration and 1 hr of non‐aeration, it was found that, by using the pretreatment of the ammonium crystallization, both the medium and large carriers were able to reduce TCOD, SCOD, and T‐N by 83.51, 84.11, and 95.10%, respectively. The EMMC unit and lime post‐treatment followed by ammonium crystallization can reduce BOD₅, TCOD, SCOD, TSS, T‐N, and T‐P, respectively by 99.22, 93.85, 92.67, 97.73, 96.43, and 97.27%. The treated wastewater, after disinfection, is able to meet the requirements of the standards issued by the USEPA for reuse of food crops. The economic analysis indicates that based on the process performance of the EMMC unit, a prefabricated wastewater treatment plant for 2000 pigs has comparable net present worth (NPW) comparing intermittent aerated biological systems and less operation and maintenance and land requirement than conventional biological processes for removal carbon and nitrogen. A farm operation of more than 2000 pigs meets the unit cost of US$4.91/pig/yr. This will minimize the problems pertaining to technical factors or considerations that heavily influence planning, construction and operation of a pig wastewater treatment system.