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Updated: Jun 22, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Enhanced nitrogen removal in bio-electrochemical systems by pH control
Peter Clauwaert1, Joachim Desloover, Caitlyn Shea
1Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Ghent, Belgium.
Maintaining a neutral pH in microbial fuel cells significantly boosts nitrogen removal from wastewater. This pH adjustment strategy enhances microbial activity for better wastewater treatment performance.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Microbiology
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) show promise for removing nitrogenous compounds from wastewater.
- Current MFC performance for nitrate removal is limited, often below 0.33 kg NO(3)(-)-Nm(-3) net cathode compartment (NCC) day(-1).
- Slow proton fluxes can impede the activity of electro-bioactive microorganisms in MFCs.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of pH control on nitrogen removal efficiency in MFCs.
- To determine if optimizing pH can enhance biological activity and overcome environmental limitations in bio-electrochemical systems.
Main Methods:
- Experimental setup of microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment.
- Controlled adjustment of pH within the cathode compartment.
- Measurement of nitrogen (nitrate) removal rates under different pH conditions.
Main Results:
- Nitrogen removal rates increased from 0.22 to 0.50 kg NO(3)(-)-Nm(-3) NCC d(-1) when cathode pH was maintained at 7.2.
- This represents a significant enhancement in MFC performance for nitrate removal.
- The findings suggest that pH directly influences the environmental conditions for microbial activity.
Conclusions:
- Optimizing pH, specifically to 7.2, is crucial for enhancing nitrogen removal in MFCs.
- A pH adjustment strategy is necessary to support sustained and improved biological activity in bio-electrochemical systems.
- This research highlights the importance of environmental parameter control for efficient MFC wastewater treatment.
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