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Updated: Jul 26, 2025

Electrochemically and Bioelectrochemically Induced Ammonium Recovery
Published on: January 22, 2015
Acorus calamus recycled as an additional carbon source in a microbial fuel cell-constructed wetland for enhanced
Mengni Tao1, Yu Kong2, Zhaoqian Jing1
1College of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing 210037, China.
Abstract:
Acorus calamus was recycled as an additional carbon source in microbial fuel cell-constructed wetlands (MFC-CWs), for efficient nitrogen removal of low carbon wastewater. The pretreatment methods, adding positions, and nitrogen transformations were investigated. Results indicated that alkali-pretreatment cleaved the benzene rings in dominant released organics, producing chemical oxygen demand of 164.5 mg from per gram of A. calamus. Pretreated biomass addition in the anode of MFC-CW attained the maximum total nitrogen removal of 97.6% and power generation of 12.5 mW/m2, which were higher than those with biomass in the cathode (97.6% and 1.6 mW/m2, respectively). However, the duration of a cycle with biomass in the cathode (20-25 days) was longer than that in the anode (10-15 days). Microbial metabolisms related to organics degradation, nitrification, denitrification, and anammox were intensified after biomass recycling. This study provides a promising method to improve nitrogen removal and energy recovery in MFC-CWs.
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