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Nitrilotriacetic acid degradation under microbial fuel cell environment
Jae Kyung Jang1, In Seop Chang, Hyunsoo Moon
1Water Environment and Remediation Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, 39-1, Hawolgok-dong, Sungbuk-ku, Seoul 136-791, Korea.
Biotechnology and Bioengineering
|September 8, 2006
Summary
Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) removal was studied in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Oligotrophic MFCs effectively removed over 85% of NTA, demonstrating its potential as a sustainable wastewater treatment fuel.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Environmental Microbiology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) is a synthetic chelating agent used in detergents and industrial applications.
- NTA can persist in the environment, posing challenges for conventional wastewater treatment.
- Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising bioelectrochemical approach for wastewater remediation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the efficacy of anaerobic microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) removal.
- To compare NTA removal efficiency in oligotrophic and copiotrophic MFCs under different feeding conditions.
- To assess the potential of NTA as an electron donor (fuel) in MFCs.
Main Methods:
- Utilized oligotrophic and copiotrophic microbial fuel cells (MFCs) under anaerobic conditions.
- Enriched and maintained MFCs with NTA-containing and NTA-free fuels.
- Monitored NTA removal percentages and current generation.
Main Results:
- Oligotrophic MFCs achieved over 85% NTA removal when enriched with NTA-containing fuel.
- NTA removal was significantly lower (~20%) in oligotrophic MFCs with NTA-free fuel and in copiotrophic MFCs.
- Oligotrophic MFCs generated electrical current concurrent with NTA utilization, indicating NTA oxidation.
Conclusions:
- NTA can be effectively removed from wastewater using specialized oligotrophic microbial fuel cells.
- NTA demonstrates suitability as a sole organic fuel source for bioelectrochemical oxidation in MFCs.
- This study highlights a novel MFC-based process for sustainable NTA remediation in wastewater treatment.
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