Sulfide Removal from Wastewater Using the New Microbial Fuel Cell Technology with Simultaneous Clean Energy Generation

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

1 Former Graduate Student of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran

2 Ass. Prof. of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran

Abstract

Wastewater is nowadays a major concern in human societies that has encouraged many scientists to direct their efforts at developing new and efficient methods for its treatment. Most of the methods so far proposed or developed are time-consuming and/or cost intensive. Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a new technique that is capable of direct conversion of the chemical energy due to wastewater treatment into electrical energy. Most treatment processes commonly release sulfide ions that are highly toxic and deterimental. In the method proposed in this study, the sulfide ions generated during wastewater treatment were used as electron donors in the anaerobic compartment of a dual chamber microbial fuel cell and the removal of different concentrations of sulfide ions and the power generated were studied. For this purpose, the effects of three different concentrations of sulfide (0.1, 0.8, and 1.5 g.l‒1) on MFC performance were explored to find that a sulfide removal efficiency of 98% could be achieved after 21h, 6 days, and 10 days, respectively. Also, cyclic voltammetry was used for the detection of electrochemical activity by microorganisms and sulfide oxidation in the anode chamber.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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Journal of Water and Wastewater; Ab va Fazilab ( in persian )
Volume 27, Issue 3 - Serial Number 103
Serial Number: 103
July and August 2016
Pages 26-31

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