Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 10, 2026

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
A decentralized wastewater treatment system using microbial fuel cell techniques and its response to a copper shock
Cuijie Feng1, Anyi Hu, Shaohua Chen
1Key Laboratory of Urban Environment and Health, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen 361021, China.
Abstract:
Bench-scale decentralized wastewater treatment systems using microbial fuel cell (MFC) techniques were constructed for simultaneous removal of carbonaceous and nitrogenous pollutants and electricity production from wastewater. The MFC was operated in continuous mode and immobilized Paracoccus pantotrophus cells were added in the cathodic compartment to achieve simultaneous nitrification-denitrification. After 150-day operation, the MFC system could effectively remove >96% COD and 100% ammonium, with 60-80% total nitrogen removal and around 0.2V voltage production. The results of copper (Cu) shock load showed that although 125 mg L(-1) Cu (II) would deteriorate the effluent quality and completely inhibit the electricity production, the microbial populations restored their ability to treat wastewater and produce electricity after a period around 30 days. Community analysis by the 454 pyrosequencing technique showed that the microbial compositions were significantly different and decreased in diversity after the Cu shock load.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Leaching
Microbial Corrosion
Microbial Bioremediation of Uranium
Voltaic/Galvanic Cells
Spontaneous redox reactions occur abundantly in nature. The chemical reaction occurring in a disposable AA battery powering our remote controls is one such example of a spontaneous redox reaction. Another example is the immersion of coiled copper wire into an aqueous silver nitrate solution. The reaction shows a gradual, visually impressive color change from colorless to bright blue and the formation of a grey precipitate on the copper wire. In this experiment,...
Acid Mine Drainage

