Energy recovery from winery wastewater using a dual chamber microbial fuel cell

Author(s)

Penteado, Eduardo D. ^[1] ; Fernandez-Marchante, Carmen M. ^[2] ; Zaiat, Marcelo ^[1] ; Canizares, Pablo ^[2] ; Gonzalez, Ernesto R. ^[3] ; Rodrigo, Manuel A. R. ^[2]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, EESC, Ctr Pesquisa Desenvolvimento & Inovacao Engn Ambi, LPB, Engn Ambiental Bloco 4-F, Av Joao Dagnone 1100, BR-13563120 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

^[2] Univ Castilla La Mancha, Dept Chem Engn, Enr Costa Bldg, Campus Univ S-N, E-13071 Ciudad Real - Spain

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, IQSC, Dept Quim Fis, Ave Trabalhador Sao Carlense 400, BR-13566590 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY; v. 91, n. 6, p. 1802-1808, JUN 2016.
• Web of Science Citations: 11

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can treat agro-industrial wastewater, but only a few studies have reported the treatment of winery waste and much work is needed in order to develop this interesting application of MFC technology, in particular in evaluating how the unfavorable COD/N and COD/P ratios may affect the MFC performance. In this work, a dual chamber MFC was used to treat real effluents from wine processing factories. RESULTS: The MFC was not efficient in terms of COD removal, even when nutrients concentration was increased and daily removals which oscillated around 1000 mg L-1 d(-1) were observed during the complete experimental period, with COD removals around 17%. Increases in the phosphorus and nitrogen concentrations positively influenced the production of electricity. By increasing the concentration of phosphorus and nitrogen, Coulombic efficiency was increased from 2% to almost 15%, and maximum power density from 105 to 465mW m(-2). CONCLUSIONS: Results demonstrate that electricity can be produced efficiently and that the unbalanced nutrients/COD ratio is a major challenge in the treatment of winery wastewater, in spite of the very high organic load contained in this type of wastewater. (C) 2015 Society of Chemical Industry (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/15984-0 - Bioenergy production from wastewaters and environmental fitting of liquid and solid wastes generated
• Grantee: Marcelo Zaiat
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants
• FAPESP's process: 14/07904-5 - Winery wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cell
• Grantee: Eduardo Dellosso Penteado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate
• FAPESP's process: 11/23026-0 - Wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cell and direct electric power generation: fundaments and application
• Grantee: Eduardo Dellosso Penteado
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate