Abstract
Microbial desalination cells are promising bio-electrochemical technologies for water desalination, treating wastewater and bioelectricity production. In this study, the capability of microbial desalination cell was investigated to remove chromium (Cr(VI)) and lead (Pb(II)), from industrial wastewaters. In addition, we tested the use of ozone as a new electron acceptor in microbial desalination cells to improve the removal efficiency and for bioelectricity generation. Findings were compared with those of another microbial desalination cell operated independently with oxygen: an O2-microbial desalination cell. Results show that, to remove Cr using ozone, the maximum power density was 812 mW cm−2 and the removal efficiency was 99.2%. By comparison, for Cr when oxygen was used, the maximum power density and removal efficiency were lower, 354 mW cm−2, and 91.8%, respectively. For Pb using ozone, the maximum power density was 568 mW cm−2 and the removal efficiency was 98.4%. By comparison, for Pb using oxygen, the maximum power density was lower, of 232 mW cm−2, and the removal efficiency was also lower, of 88.5%. More stable current profiles were observed using ozone. Scanning electron microscopy images indicate that the whole surface of the anode is occupied by a complex dense biofilm. Overall, our findings show that modifying the bio-electrochemical processes with ozone promotes the reactor efficacy in terms of power generation and wastewater treatment.
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This study was financially supported by Grant No: 951205 of the Biotechnology Development Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran and by Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences (Grant No: 12532).
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Gholizadeh, A., Salmani, M.H., Ebrahimi, A.A. et al. Improved power density and Cr/Pb removal using ozone in a microbial desalination cell. Environ Chem Lett 16, 1477–1485 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0760-5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10311-018-0760-5