Operationalization of a microbial electrolysis cell: The interaction of the primary factors for energy storage...

Microbial electrolysis cells have attracted attention as a method to enhance anaerobic digesters' performance. However, optimization of individual factors is not directly transferrable among systems as many are intimately linked and influenced by the system design, influent, and inoculum. To avoid this, here the effects and interactions between the relative electrode size, hydraulic retention time (HRT), and voltage imposed have been explored within a pair of otherwise identical reactors. Methane production has a positive correlation with the applied voltage, reaching 12.9 mL_CH4 L^-1h^-1 with 10 days HRT and 1000 mV, also achieving 35% energy storage efficiency, despite the higher electrical input. Shorter HRTs led to bacterial washouts, reducing the methane production below 10 mL_CH4 L^-1h^-1. Contour plots were constructed to relate the energy storage efficiency with operational conditions changes. These highlighted the benefits of using a relatively larger cathode than anode for improving energy storage efficiency.