Electricity-driven ammonia oxidation and acetate production in microbial electrosynthesis systems

doi:10.1007/s11783-021-1476-5

Front. Environ. Sci. Eng.

2022, Vol. 16

Issue (4) : 42 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-021-1476-5

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Electricity-driven ammonia oxidation and acetate production in microbial electrosynthesis systems

Qinjun Liang¹, Yu Gao¹, Zhigang Li¹, Jiayi Cai¹, Na Chu¹, Wen Hao², Yong Jiang¹(

), Raymond Jianxiong Zeng¹

¹. Fujian Provincial Key Laboratory of Soil Environmental Health and Regulation, College of Resources and Environment, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou 350002, China
². State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China

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Abstract

• MES was constructed for simultaneous ammonia removal and acetate production.

• Energy consumption was different for total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen removal.

• Energy consumption for acetate production was about 0.04 kWh/g.

• Nitrate accumulation explained the difference of energy consumption.

• Transport of ammonia and acetate across the membrane deteriorated the performance.

Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging technology for producing chemicals, and coupling MES to anodic waste oxidation can simultaneously increase the competitiveness and allow additional functions to be explored. In this study, MES was used for the simultaneous removal of ammonia from synthetic urine and production of acetate from CO₂. Using graphite anode, 83.2%±5.3% ammonia removal and 28.4%±9.9% total nitrogen removal was achieved, with an energy consumption of 1.32 kWh/g N for total nitrogen removal, 0.45 kWh/g N for ammonia nitrogen removal, and 0.044 kWh/g for acetate production. Using boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode, 70.9%±12.1% ammonia removal and 51.5%±11.8% total nitrogen removal was obtained, with an energy consumption of 0.84 kWh/g N for total nitrogen removal, 0.61 kWh/g N for ammonia nitrogen removal, and 0.043 kWh/g for acetate production. A difference in nitrate accumulation explained the difference of total nitrogen removal efficiencies. Transport of ammonia and acetate across the membrane deteriorated the performance of MES. These results are important for the development of novel electricity-driven technologies for chemical production and pollution removal.

Keywords Biocathode Carbon dioxide Electrochemical oxidation Graphite anode Boron-doped diamond

Corresponding Author(s): Yong Jiang

Issue Date: 22 July 2021

Cite this article:

Qinjun Liang,Yu Gao,Zhigang Li, et al. Electricity-driven ammonia oxidation and acetate production in microbial electrosynthesis systems[J]. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 2022, 16(4): 42.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/10.1007/s11783-021-1476-5
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fese/EN/Y2022/V16/I4/42

Fig.1 A schematic workflow for electrochemical ammonia removal in single-chambered abiotic cells (a), biocathode enrichment in MES reactors equipped with an OER anode (b), and simultaneous ammonia removal and acetate production in MES (c).

Fig.2 Results from the electrochemical oxidation for ammonia removal from synthetic urine in single-chambered abiotic cells: (a) time evolution of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite concentrations using a graphite anode, (b) time evolution of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite concentrations using a BDD anode, (c) volume of produced gases against anode current using a graphite anode, (d) volume of produced gases against anode current using a BDD anode, (e) time evolution of electrode potential of the graphite anode, and (f) time evolution of electrode potential of the BDD anode.

Fig.3 Results from MES reactors equipped with an OER anode for the enrichment of biocathodes: (a) time evolution of acetate concentration, (b) time evolution of partial pressure in the cathode chamber, (c) time evolution of pH of the catholyte, (d) time evolution of voltage of the MES reactors, (e) electrochemical impedance spectra of the biocathodes, and (f) voltammogram profiles of the biocathodes. The reactors were divided into two groups and run under the same conditions. The current was fixed at 0.35 mA for 13 days, and then 7 mA and 12 mA each for 12 days, respectively.

Fig.4 Results from MES reactors for simultaneous ammonia removal and acetate production: (a) time evolution of concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite in the anode chamber with graphite anode, (b) concentrations of ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite in the anode chamber with BDD anode, (c) volume of produced gases in the anode chamber by anode type, (d) time evolution of electrode potentials of MES reactors equipped with graphite anode, (e) electrode potentials of MES reactors equipped with BDD anode, (f) acetate concentration in the cathode chamber, (g) partial pressure in the cathode chamber, (h) acetate concentration in the anode chamber, and (i) increased ammonia in the cathode chamber by cycle and anode type. The abiotic control was equipped with a carbon felt cathode without the use of a biocathode. Here, 10-times diluted synthetic urine was added in the anode chamber.

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