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Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
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pH-dependent ammonia removal pathways in microbial fuel cell system.

Taeyoung Kim1, Junyeong An1, Hyeryeong Lee1

  • 1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), Gwangju 61005, Republic of Korea.

Bioresource Technology
|April 20, 2016
PubMed
Summary

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) effectively remove ammonia. Neutral pH favors electrochemical ammonia removal, while higher pH enhances biological removal, suggesting pH control for targeted ammonia recovery in wastewater.

Keywords:
Ammonia recoveryAmmonia removalAnammoxMicrobial fuel cellpH

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Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Electrochemistry
  • Microbiology

Background:

  • Ammonia removal from wastewater is crucial for environmental protection.
  • Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable approach to wastewater treatment and energy recovery.
  • Understanding ammonia removal pathways in MFCs under varying conditions is essential for process optimization.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the influence of initial pH on ammonia removal pathways in MFCs.
  • To quantify ammonia removal efficiencies via electrochemical and biological routes at different pH levels.
  • To determine optimal pH conditions for ammonia recovery using MFCs.

Main Methods:

  • MFCs were operated at initial pH conditions of 7.0, 8.0, and 8.6.
  • Ammonia removal was monitored over 192 hours.
  • Electrochemical and biological removal efficiencies were calculated based on ammonia reduction and suspected metabolic pathways.

Main Results:

  • At neutral pH (7.0), MFCs achieved 23.3% ammonia removal electrochemically and 36.1% biologically.
  • Increasing pH to 8.0 and 8.6 significantly decreased electrochemical removal (<5.0%) while boosting biological removal (up to 61.8%).
  • Biological ammonia oxidation, potentially via Anammox, was identified as a major removal pathway at higher pH.

Conclusions:

  • Maintaining a neutral pH in the MFC anode is optimal for ammonia recovery through electrochemical pathways.
  • Higher pH conditions favor biological ammonia oxidation, reducing electrochemical recovery efficiency.
  • MFCs can be tailored for specific ammonia management strategies by controlling anode pH.