A sustainable approach for selective ammonium recovery from wastewater: synergy of microbial fuel cell and battery deionization
Journal
Desalination
Journal Volume
613
Start Page
119068
ISSN
0011-9164
Date Issued
2025-10-15
Author(s)
Abstract
The approach to sewage treatment is evolving from conventional pollutant removal methods to adopting a circular economy that focuses on energy and resource recovery. Ammonium ions (NH4+) serve as a crucial industrial resource but also contribute to environmental pollution, particularly in sewage, leading to various ecological issues. Therefore, the development of an NH4+ selective recovery technology with low energy consumption is imperative. In this study, we present a novel approach called MFC-BDI, which combines the technologies of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and battery deionization (BDI). The integrated system utilizes a nickel hexacyanoferrate (NiHCF) electrode with a selective affinity for NH4+, enabling the achievement of NH4+ recovery with low energy demand and an appropriately operated voltage. Within this integrated system, the MFC initially degrades the organic matter in the water, generating bioelectricity that powers the subsequent operation of the BDI unit. The MFC-BDI system operated without requiring additional energy input, achieving a voltage of approximately 0.55 V and a charge efficiency of 81%. As demonstrated, with regard to NH4+, the MFC-BDI system exhibited a mean deionization capacity of 0.32 mmol/g, surpassing that of other cations in wastewater. Moreover, the selectivity coefficient of NH4+ over Na+ was found to be 16.28, indicating the preferential intercalation of NH4+ over Na+ by the NiHCF cathode. This finding introduces a proof-of-concept for integrating the MFC and BDI systems, providing valuable insights to develop a sustainable approach for NH4+ recovery.
Subjects
Ammonium recovery
Anaerobic treatment
Intercalation electrode
Microbial fuel cell
Selective separation
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Type
journal article