Pilot-scale bioelectrochemical system for simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal in urban wastewater treatment plants

[EN] This study aims to characterize the performance of a 150 L bioelectrochemical system-based plant, during the simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal from several waste streams of wastewater treatment plants. The bioelectrochemical system (BES) contained five electrode pairs (operated hydraulic...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: San Martin Bécares, María Isabel, Mateos González, Raúl, Carracedo del Río, Begoña, Escapa González, Adrián, Morán Palao, Antonio
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2018
País:España
Institución:Universidad Rey Juan Carlos
Repositorio:BULERIA. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de León
OAI Identifier:oai:buleria.unileon.es:10612/18113
Acceso en línea:https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1389172317308861?via%3Dihub
https://hdl.handle.net/10612/18113
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Ecología. Medio ambiente
Ingeniería química
Microbial electrolysis cell
Scaling up
Nitrogen removal
Centrate
Biocathode
3308.10 Tecnología de Aguas Residuales
2301.02 Análisis Bioquímico
3302.90 Ingeniería Bioquímica
Descripción
Sumario:[EN] This study aims to characterize the performance of a 150 L bioelectrochemical system-based plant, during the simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal from several waste streams of wastewater treatment plants. The bioelectrochemical system (BES) contained five electrode pairs (operated hydraulically and electrically in parallel) and was fed with either wastewater, centrate (nutrient-rich liquid stream produced during the dewatering of digested biomass), or a mixture of both over 63 days, with a hydraulic retention time of one day. Total organic carbon and total nitrogen removal rates averaged 80% and 70%, respectively, with a specific energy consumption of 0.18 kWh·m−3 (BES + ancillary equipment). This work also underlines the challenges of using BES for nitrogen removal, highlighting the limitations of the current design, and suggesting some strategies for improvement.