Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment

Algae-assisted microbial desalination cells represent a sustainable technology for low-energy fresh water production in which microalgae culture is integrated into the system to enhance oxygen reduction reaction in the cathode chamber. However, the water production (desalination rate) is low compare...

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Autores principales:	David Ewusi-Mensah, Jingyu Huang, Laura Katherin Chaparro, Pau Rodenas, Marina Ramírez-Moreno, Juan Manuel Ortiz, Abraham Esteve-Núñez
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	microbial desalination cells microalgae desalination brackish water Chemical technology TP1-1185 Chemistry QD1-999
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/201b377581ea4f969a081188ec907c8c
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:201b377581ea4f969a081188ec907c8c2021-11-25T18:51:27ZAlgae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment10.3390/pr91120112227-9717https://doaj.org/article/201b377581ea4f969a081188ec907c8c2021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/2227-9717/9/11/2011https://doaj.org/toc/2227-9717Algae-assisted microbial desalination cells represent a sustainable technology for low-energy fresh water production in which microalgae culture is integrated into the system to enhance oxygen reduction reaction in the cathode chamber. However, the water production (desalination rate) is low compared to conventional technologies (i.e., reverse osmosis and/or electrodialysis), as biocathodes provide low current generation to sustain the desalination process. In this sense, more research efforts on this topic are necessary to address this bottleneck. Thus, this study provides analysis, from the electrochemical point of view, on the cathode performance of an algae-assisted microbial desalination cell (MDC) using <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>. Firstly, the system was run with a pure culture of <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> suspension in the cathode under conditions of an abiotic anode to assess the cathodic behavior (i.e., cathode polarization curves in light-dark conditions and oxygen depletion). Secondly, <i>Geobacter sulfurreducens</i> was inoculated in the anode compartment of the MDC, and the desalination cycle was carried out. The results showed that microalgae could generate an average of 9–11.5 mg/L of dissolved oxygen during the light phase, providing enough dissolved oxygen to drive the migration of ions (i.e., desalination) in the MDC system. Moreover, during the dark phase, a residual concentration of oxygen (ca. 5.5–8 mg/L) was measured, indicating that oxygen was not wholly depleted under our experimental conditions. Interestingly, the oxygen concentration was restored (after complete depletion of dissolved oxygen by flushing with N<sub>2</sub>) as soon as microalgae were exposed to the light phase again. After a 31 h desalination cycle, the cell generated a current density of 0.12 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at an efficiency of 60.15%, 77.37% salt was removed at a nominal desalination rate of 0.63 L/m<sup>2</sup>/h, coulombic efficiency was 9%, and 0.11 kWh/m<sup>3</sup> of electric power was generated. The microalgae-assisted biocathode has an advantage over the air diffusion and bubbling as it can self-sustain a steady and higher concentration of oxygen, cost-effectively regenerate or recover from loss and sustainably retain the system’s performance under naturally occurring conditions. Thus, our study provides insights into implementing the algae-assisted cathode for sustainable desalination using MDC technology and subsequent optimization.David Ewusi-MensahJingyu HuangLaura Katherin ChaparroPau RodenasMarina Ramírez-MorenoJuan Manuel OrtizAbraham Esteve-NúñezMDPI AGarticlemicrobial desalination cellsmicroalgaedesalinationbrackish waterChemical technologyTP1-1185ChemistryQD1-999ENProcesses, Vol 9, Iss 2011, p 2011 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	microbial desalination cells microalgae desalination brackish water Chemical technology TP1-1185 Chemistry QD1-999
spellingShingle	microbial desalination cells microalgae desalination brackish water Chemical technology TP1-1185 Chemistry QD1-999 David Ewusi-Mensah Jingyu Huang Laura Katherin Chaparro Pau Rodenas Marina Ramírez-Moreno Juan Manuel Ortiz Abraham Esteve-Núñez Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
description	Algae-assisted microbial desalination cells represent a sustainable technology for low-energy fresh water production in which microalgae culture is integrated into the system to enhance oxygen reduction reaction in the cathode chamber. However, the water production (desalination rate) is low compared to conventional technologies (i.e., reverse osmosis and/or electrodialysis), as biocathodes provide low current generation to sustain the desalination process. In this sense, more research efforts on this topic are necessary to address this bottleneck. Thus, this study provides analysis, from the electrochemical point of view, on the cathode performance of an algae-assisted microbial desalination cell (MDC) using <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i>. Firstly, the system was run with a pure culture of <i>Chlorella vulgaris</i> suspension in the cathode under conditions of an abiotic anode to assess the cathodic behavior (i.e., cathode polarization curves in light-dark conditions and oxygen depletion). Secondly, <i>Geobacter sulfurreducens</i> was inoculated in the anode compartment of the MDC, and the desalination cycle was carried out. The results showed that microalgae could generate an average of 9–11.5 mg/L of dissolved oxygen during the light phase, providing enough dissolved oxygen to drive the migration of ions (i.e., desalination) in the MDC system. Moreover, during the dark phase, a residual concentration of oxygen (ca. 5.5–8 mg/L) was measured, indicating that oxygen was not wholly depleted under our experimental conditions. Interestingly, the oxygen concentration was restored (after complete depletion of dissolved oxygen by flushing with N<sub>2</sub>) as soon as microalgae were exposed to the light phase again. After a 31 h desalination cycle, the cell generated a current density of 0.12 mA/cm<sup>2</sup> at an efficiency of 60.15%, 77.37% salt was removed at a nominal desalination rate of 0.63 L/m<sup>2</sup>/h, coulombic efficiency was 9%, and 0.11 kWh/m<sup>3</sup> of electric power was generated. The microalgae-assisted biocathode has an advantage over the air diffusion and bubbling as it can self-sustain a steady and higher concentration of oxygen, cost-effectively regenerate or recover from loss and sustainably retain the system’s performance under naturally occurring conditions. Thus, our study provides insights into implementing the algae-assisted cathode for sustainable desalination using MDC technology and subsequent optimization.
format	article
author	David Ewusi-Mensah Jingyu Huang Laura Katherin Chaparro Pau Rodenas Marina Ramírez-Moreno Juan Manuel Ortiz Abraham Esteve-Núñez
author_facet	David Ewusi-Mensah Jingyu Huang Laura Katherin Chaparro Pau Rodenas Marina Ramírez-Moreno Juan Manuel Ortiz Abraham Esteve-Núñez
author_sort	David Ewusi-Mensah
title	Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
title_short	Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
title_full	Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
title_fullStr	Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
title_full_unstemmed	Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
title_sort	algae-assisted microbial desalination cell: analysis of cathode performance and desalination efficiency assessment
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/201b377581ea4f969a081188ec907c8c
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Algae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment

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