Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell

doi:10.1007/s11783-013-0596-y

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2015, Vol. 9

Issue (2) : 317-323 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0596-y

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell

Shanshan CHEN,Haiping LUO,Yanping HOU,Guangli LIU(

),Renduo ZHANG,Bangyu QIN

Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Environmental Pollution Control and Remediation Technology, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

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Abstract

Microbial desalination cell (MDC) is a promising technology to desalinate water and generate electrical power simultaneously. The objectives of this study were to investigate the desalination performance of monovalent and divalent cations in the MDC, and discuss the effect of ion characteristics, ion concentrations, and electrical characteristics. Mixed salt solutions of NaCl, MgCl₂, KCl, and CaCl₂ with the same concentration were used in the desalination chamber to study removal of cations. Results showed that in the mixed salt solutions, the electrodialysis desalination rates of cations were: Ca²⁺ >Mg²⁺>Na⁺>K⁺. Higher ionic charges and smaller hydrated ionic radii resulted in higher desalination rates of the cations, in which the ionic charge was more important than the hydrated ionic radius. Mixed solutions of NaCl and MgCl₂ with different concentrations were used in the desalination chamber to study the effect of ion concentrations. Results showed that when ion concentrations of Na⁺ were one-fifth to five times of Mg²⁺, ion concentration influenced the dialysis more profoundly than electrodialysis. With the current densities below a certain value, charge transfer efficiencies became very low and the dialysis was the main process responsible for the desalination. And the phosphate transfer from the anode chamber and potassium transfer from the cathode chamber could balance 1%–3% of the charge transfer in the MDC.

Keywords divalent ion electrodialysis ion characteristic microbial desalination cell monovalent ion

Corresponding Author(s): Guangli LIU

Online First Date: 29 November 2013 Issue Date: 13 February 2015

Cite this article:

Shanshan CHEN,Haiping LUO,Yanping HOU, et al. Comparison of the removal of monovalent and divalent cations in the microbial desalination cell[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2015, 9(2): 317-323.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-013-0596-y
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2015/V9/I2/317

Tab.1 Power generation of the MDC with different external resistances using 0.17 mol·L^-1 NaCl+ 0.17 mol·L^-1 MgCl₂ + 0.17 mol·L^-1 KCl+ 0.17 mol·L^-1 CaCl₂ in the desalination chamber

Fig.1 Removal rates of electrodialysis and dialysis and charge transfer efficiencies of Na⁺, Mg²⁺, K⁺ and Ca²⁺ in a mixed salt solution of NaCl+ MgCl₂ + KCl+ CaCl₂ in the MDC with different external resistances

Fig.2 Removal rates of electrodialysis and dialysis and charge transfer efficiencies of (a) Na⁺ and (b) Mg²⁺ in mixed salt solutions of 0.17 mol·L^-1 NaCl+ 0.17 mol·L^-1 MgCl₂, 0.17 mol·L^-1 NaCl+ 0.03 mol·L^-1 MgCl₂, and 0.03 mol·L^-1 NaCl+ 0.17 mol·L^-1 MgCl₂ in the MDC with different external resistances after 2 h of operation

Fig.3 Final phosphate concentrations and potassium concentrations in the desalination chamber using mixed salt solution of 0.17 mol·L^-1 NaCl+ 0.17 mol·L^-1 MgCl₂ changing with different external resistances

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