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Updated: May 29, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Ammonium as a sustainable proton shuttle in bioelectrochemical systems
Ralf Cord-Ruwisch1, Yingyu Law, Ka Yu Cheng
1Faculty of Sustainability, Environment and Life Sciences, Murdoch University, South Street, Perth, WA 6150, Australia. r.cord-ruwisch@murdoch.edu.au
Abstract:
This work examines a pH control method using ammonium (NH(4)(+)) as a sustainable proton shuttle in a CEM-equipped BES. Current generation was sustained by adding NH(3) or ammonium hydroxide (NH(4)OH) to the anolyte, controlling its pH at 7. Ammonium ion migration maintained the catholyte pH at approximately 9.25. Such NH(4)(+)/NH(3) migration accounted for 90±10% of the ionic flux in the BES. Reintroducing the volatilized NH(3) from the cathode into the anolyte maintained a suitable anolyte pH for sustained microbial-driven current generation. Hence, NH(4)(+)/NH(3) acted as a proton shuttle that is not consumed in the process.
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