Simultaneous water desalination and electricity generation in a microbial desalination cell with electrolyte recirculation for pH control

Youpeng Qu, Yujie Feng, Xin Wang, Jia Liu, Jiangwei Lv, Weihua He, Bruce E. Logan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

167 Scopus citations

Abstract

A recirculation microbial desalination cell (rMDC) was designed and operated to allow recirculation of solutions between the anode and cathode chambers. This recirculation avoided pH imbalances that could inhibit bacterial metabolism. The maximum power density was 931±29mW/m 2 with a 50mM phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and 776±30mW/m 2 with 25mM PBS. These power densities were higher than those obtained without recirculation of 698±10mW/m 2 (50mM PBS) and 508±11mW/m 2 (25mM PBS). The salt solution (20g/L NaCl) was reduced in salinity by 34±1% (50mM) and 37±2% (25mM) with recirculation (rMDC), and by 39±1% (50mM) and 25±3% (25mM) without recirculation (MDC). These results show that electrolyte recirculation using an rMDC is an effective method to increase power and achieve efficient desalination by eliminating pH imbalances. © 2011 Elsevier Ltd.
Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)89-94
Number of pages6
JournalBioresource Technology
Volume106
DOIs
StatePublished - Feb 2012
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

KAUST Repository Item: Exported on 2020-10-01
Acknowledged KAUST grant number(s): KUS-I1-003-13
Acknowledgements: The research was supported by the State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology (HC200901). The authors also thank the National Innovation Team supported by the National Science Foundation of China (No. 50821002) (51108116), the National Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of China (51125033), and the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) (Award KUS-I1-003-13). The technical assistance of Prof. Yu Li is also highly appreciated.
This publication acknowledges KAUST support, but has no KAUST affiliated authors.

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