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Updated: Mar 20, 2026

Laboratory-determined Phosphorus Flux from Lake Sediments as a Measure of Internal Phosphorus Loading
Published on: March 6, 2014
Enhanced phosphorus flux from overlying water to sediment in a bioelectrochemical system
Qinzheng Yang1, Huazhang Zhao2, Nannan Zhao2
1Department of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology, Jinan 250353, PR China.
Abstract:
This report proposed a novel technique for the regulation of phosphorus flux based on a bioelectrochemical system. In the simulated water system, a simple in situ sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) was constructed. SMFC voltage was increased with time until it was 0.23V. The redox potential of the sediment was increased from -220mV to -178mV during the process. Phosphorus concentration in the water system was decreased from 0.1mg/L to 0.01mg/L, compared with 0.09mg/L in the control. The installation of a SMFC produced an external current and internal circuit, which promoted the transfer of phosphate in overlying water to the sediment, enhanced the microbial oxidation of Fe(2+), and increased the formation of stable phosphorus in sediment. In conclusion, phosphorus flux from the overlying water to sediment was enhanced by SMFC, which has the potential to be used for eutrophication control of water bodies.
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