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Effects of influent COD/TN ratio on nitrogen removal in integrated constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell systems
Xiaoou Wang1, Yimei Tian1, Hong Liu2
1School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300350, China.
Abstract:
Given that the relationship between the influent C/N (generally referred to as COD/TN) ratio and nitrogen removal has not been well understood in integrated constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) systems, this study aimed to investigate the effects of COD/TN ratio on nitrogen removal in CW-MFCs. Results showed that the MFC could reduce the dependence of denitrification on organic carbon sources in CWs, and influent COD/TN ratios ≥3 could result in a TN removal of 90.30-91.46% in CW-MFCs. Moreover, the MFC could significantly enhance TN removal by 4.81% to 15.48% when the influent COD/TN ratios decreased from 9.00 to 1.23 in CWs. The lower the influent COD/TN ratio was, the stronger the enhancement of the MFC. There was a significant positive relationship (R2 > 0.99) between the electricity output and influent CODCr concentration (50-360 mg/L) in the CW-MFC.
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