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Updated: Jul 11, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Simultaneous organics removal and bio-electrochemical denitrification in microbial fuel cells
Yu-Hong Jia1, Hung-Thuan Tran, Dae-Hee Kim
1Department of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Myongji University, San 38-2 Namdong, Yongin, Kyonggido, 449-728, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Simultaneous organics removal and bio-electrochemical denitrification using a microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactor were investigated in this study. The electrons produced as a result of the microbial oxidation of glucose in the anodic chamber were transferred to the anode, which then flowed to the cathode in the cathodic chamber through a wire, where microorganisms used the transferred electrons to reduce the nitrate. The highest power output obtained on the MFCs was 1.7 mW/m(2) at a current density of 15 mA/m(2). The maximum volumetric nitrate removal rate was 0.084 mg NO(3)(-)-N cm(-2) (electrode surface area) day(-1). The coulombic efficiency was about 7%, which demonstrated that a substantial fraction of substrate was lost without current generation.
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