Energy from wastewater – Microbial electrochemical wastewater treatment

High energetic potential in wastewater

• Currently, wastewater treatment in industrialized countries is an energy-intensive process. It is estimated that 20% of municipal electricity consumption in Germany is used for wastewater treatment (K. Fricke, Energy Efficiency of Municipal Wastewater Treatment Plants, Federal Environment Agency, Dessau-Roßlau, 2009).

• At the same time, wastewater has a considerable energy content

• Example calculation: sewage treatment plant size 4, 55000 PE (2.5 million m3 wastewater annually), if only domestic wastewater is used, 450 MWh per year would be possible (at only 10% efficiency)

The UFZ approach - bioelectrochemistry



Helmholtz-Zentrum für Umweltforschung GmbH - UFZ

Franz Opel

Franz Opel

Industry Liaison Officer

Details

Microbial fuel cell for generating electrical energy from wastewater

Schematic structure of a microbial fuel cell for generating electrical energy from wastewater: The wastewater flows into the anode chamber, where the energy-rich components it contains are oxidized by the microorganisms. The electrons released are transferred to the anode by EET and flow via the external consumer to the cathode. The purified wastewater flows away again. At the cathode, the released electrons are transferred to oxygen, which is thus reduced. An ion transfer takes place between the anode and cathode to equalize the charge. Technical readiness level: Pilot plant scale (16 L volume) in batch process and in continuous operation with municipal wastewater Results: HRT 1.2 days Average CODin: 0.54 g L-1 CODout: < 210 mg L-1 COD removal: 67% Nitrogen recovery (NH4+): 40% Further information: Biores. Technol. 163 (2014) 206-213 Biores. Technol. 198 (2015) 913-917 DECHEMA Position Paper Bioelectrosynthesis as an essential building block of the bioeconomy (2019)

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