Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 24, 2025
Ion-Exchange Membranes for the Fabrication of Reverse Electrodialysis Device
Published on: July 20, 2021
Enhanced phosphate recovery in R-MCDI systems: Synergistic effects of modified electrodes and
Yunfei He1, Tie Gao2, Ao Gong2
1Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Wetland Intelligent Monitoring and Ecological Restoration, School of Engineering, Hangzhou Normal University, Hangzhou 310018, PR China; School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; School of the Environment, Nanjing University, Nanjing, 210023, PR China.
Abstract:
Efficient phosphorus (P) recovery is critical for sustainable wastewater management and resource reuse. This study optimized a reservoir of membrane capacitive deionization (R-MCDI) system by integrating acid-modified activated carbon cloth (ACC) electrodes and a membrane-electrode-current collector assembly (MECA) configuration. Acid modification enhanced the electrode's specific surface area, microporosity, and carboxyl group content, while reducing charge transfer resistance, significantly improving P recovery and selectivity. The ACC-42 electrode achieved optimal performance, achieving a 52% P recovery efficiency and low energy consumption of 8.8 kWh/kg P. The MECA configuration further amplified P recovery by optimizing electric field distribution and maximizing electrode utilization, achieving a fourfold higher recovery rate (0.081 μmol·cm-2·min-1) while reducing energy consumption by 59% compared to alternative setups. Multi-cycle operations validated the system's robustness, with P concentrations reaching 397 mg/L in the electrode chamber and a nearly 15-fold increase in selectivity for P over sulfate. This study highlights the synergistic effects of electrode modification and assembly configuration in enhancing R-MCDI performance, providing a scalable and energy-efficient solution for nutrient recovery in wastewater treatment.
