Full Title

Full Title

Bio-electrochemical systems (BESs): microbial high-tech in search of applications

Event

IWA, Montreal 2010

Authors and Affiliations

P. Clauwaert*, J. Desloover**, G. De Gueldre and W. Verstraete** <?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

* Aquafin NV, Research and product development, , Dijkstraat 8, B-2630 Aartselaar<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

(E-mail: peter.clauwaert@aquafin.bemailto:peter.clauwaert@aquafin.be, greet.degueldre@aquafin.bemailto:greet.degueldre@aquafin.be)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

** Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure L 653, B-9000, Ghent<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

(E-mail: Joachim.Desloover@UGent.bemailto:Joachim.Desloover@UGent.be, Willy.Verstraete@UGent.bemailto:Willy.Verstraete@UGent.be)<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

Abstract

The generation or consumption of electricity by microorganisms has developed from a curiosum to an interesting new research field. Exciting new insights in the versatility of microbial respiration have been obtained during the last decade and a wide variety of biological oxidation and reduction reactions are proposed and others are waiting to be implemented in practice. In this paper, the start-up of a MFC with an open air biocathode  is shown to be highly driven by the decrease of cathodic overpotentials and the presence of hydrogen peroxide during the start-up is identified as a possible limiting factor during the biocathodic start-up. Then, a new comparison is made between hydrogen en methane production in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), linking the energetic efficiency with an optimal applied cell voltage. Several reasons are proposed in favour of developing MECs for methane production. A critical analysis of technological obstacles indicated that a high ohmic cell resistance, high cathodic overpotentials and pH gradient delay the practical implementation of BESs. Finally, new applications for BESs are proposed, including water softening, metal precipitation, production of intermediates for micropollutant removal, alkaline sewer protection, nitrogen recovery and nitrous oxide monitoring and removal.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" />

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