IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/rensus/v207y2025ics1364032124006737.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Methods for improving microbial electrolysis cell for swine wastewater treatment

Author

Listed:
  • Xi, Yonglan
  • Wang, Chengcheng
  • Ye, Xiaomei
  • Liu, Yang
  • Xiao, Qingbo
  • Jia, Zhaoyan
  • Cao, Chunhui
  • Han, Ting
  • Guo, Ting
  • Chen, Zhongbing

Abstract

Microbial electrolytic cell combined with anaerobic digestion faces challenges such as unstable clean energy supply and inefficient cathode performance. The integration of low-cost, durable electrodes with renewable energy can enhance the microbial electrolytic cell sustainability. In this study, a metal-organic framework-modified electrode and intermittent renewable energy sources were used in the microbial electrolytic cell to treat swine wastewater. Additionally, hydrothermal carbon composite metal-organic framework were tested to reduce cathode costs and improve biocompatibility. Results showed that with 18 h of daily power from a hybrid wind-solar system, the metal-organic framework-modified cathode achieved the highest cumulative methane production of 305.11 mL/g-chemical oxygen demand and the highest net energy recovery. Increased microbial activity during the power-on period enhanced methane output and energy efficiency, making this energy supply method ideal for microbial electrolytic cells. This approach ensures efficient use of renewable energy, improving the economic feasibility of microbial electrolytic cells for wastewater treatment. The metal-organic framework-modified cathode also promoted biofilm growth, with an average thickness of 37.6 μm and enhanced microbial activity, likely due to its lower resistance and rapid current response.

Suggested Citation

  • Xi, Yonglan & Wang, Chengcheng & Ye, Xiaomei & Liu, Yang & Xiao, Qingbo & Jia, Zhaoyan & Cao, Chunhui & Han, Ting & Guo, Ting & Chen, Zhongbing, 2025. "Methods for improving microbial electrolysis cell for swine wastewater treatment," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:207:y:2025:i:c:s1364032124006737
    DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.114947
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1364032124006737
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.rser.2024.114947?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Escapa, A. & Mateos, R. & Martínez, E.J. & Blanes, J., 2016. "Microbial electrolysis cells: An emerging technology for wastewater treatment and energy recovery. From laboratory to pilot plant and beyond," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 942-956.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Satinover, Scott J. & Schell, Dan & Borole, Abhijeet P., 2020. "Achieving high hydrogen productivities of 20 L/L-day via microbial electrolysis of corn stover fermentation products," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 259(C).
    2. Wu, Lan & Wei, Wei & Song, Lan & Woźniak-Karczewska, Marta & Chrzanowski, Łukasz & Ni, Bing-Jie, 2021. "Upgrading biogas produced in anaerobic digestion: Biological removal and bioconversion of CO2 in biogas," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    3. Beegle, Jeffrey R. & Borole, Abhijeet P., 2018. "Energy production from waste: Evaluation of anaerobic digestion and bioelectrochemical systems based on energy efficiency and economic factors," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 96(C), pages 343-351.
    4. Bhim Sen Thapa & Soumya Pandit & Sanchita Bipin Patwardhan & Sakshi Tripathi & Abhilasha Singh Mathuriya & Piyush Kumar Gupta & Ram Bharosay Lal & Tanmoy Roy Tusher, 2022. "Application of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment: An Overview and Future Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(14), pages 1-19, July.
    5. Shuai Luo & Hongyue Sun & Qingyun Ping & Ran Jin & Zhen He, 2016. "A Review of Modeling Bioelectrochemical Systems: Engineering and Statistical Aspects," Energies, MDPI, vol. 9(2), pages 1-27, February.
    6. Lin, Richen & O'Shea, Richard & Deng, Chen & Wu, Benteng & Murphy, Jerry D., 2021. "A perspective on the efficacy of green gas production via integration of technologies in novel cascading circular bio-systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 150(C).
    7. Richard Ochieng & Alemayehu Gebremedhin & Shiplu Sarker, 2022. "Integration of Waste to Bioenergy Conversion Systems: A Critical Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-22, April.
    8. Jafar Ali & Aaqib Sohail & Lei Wang & Muhammad Rizwan Haider & Shahi Mulk & Gang Pan, 2018. "Electro-Microbiology as a Promising Approach Towards Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(7), pages 1-30, July.
    9. Rousseau, Raphaël & Etcheverry, Luc & Roubaud, Emma & Basséguy, Régine & Délia, Marie-Line & Bergel, Alain, 2020. "Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC): Strengths, weaknesses and research needs from electrochemical engineering standpoint," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    10. Kong, Fanying & Ren, Hong-Yu & Pavlostathis, Spyros G. & Nan, Jun & Ren, Nan-Qi & Wang, Aijie, 2020. "Overview of value-added products bioelectrosynthesized from waste materials in microbial electrosynthesis systems," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    11. Ndayisenga, Fabrice & Yu, Zhisheng & Zheng, Jianzhong & Wang, Bobo & Liang, Hongxia & Phulpoto, Irfan Ali & Habiyakare, Telesphore & Zhou, Dandan, 2021. "Microbial electrohydrogenesis cell and dark fermentation integrated system enhances biohydrogen production from lignocellulosic agricultural wastes: Substrate pretreatment towards optimization," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 145(C).
    12. Jiang, Yong & Yang, Xufei & Liang, Peng & Liu, Panpan & Huang, Xia, 2018. "Microbial fuel cell sensors for water quality early warning systems: Fundamentals, signal resolution, optimization and future challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 81(P1), pages 292-305.
    13. Jiseon You & John Greenman & Ioannis Ieropoulos, 2018. "Novel Analytical Microbial Fuel Cell Design for Rapid in Situ Optimisation of Dilution Rate and Substrate Supply Rate, by Flow, Volume Control and Anode Placement," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-12, September.
    14. Khan, M.Z. & Nizami, A.S. & Rehan, M. & Ouda, O.K.M. & Sultana, S. & Ismail, I.M. & Shahzad, K., 2017. "Microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production and urban wastewater treatment: A case study of Saudi Arabia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 410-420.
    15. Leicester, Daniel & Amezaga, Jaime & Heidrich, Elizabeth, 2020. "Is bioelectrochemical energy production from wastewater a reality? Identifying and standardising the progress made in scaling up microbial electrolysis cells," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 133(C).
    16. Sekoai, Patrick T. & Ghimire, Anish & Ezeokoli, Obinna T. & Rao, Subramanya & Ngan, Wing Y. & Habimana, Olivier & Yao, Yuan & Yang, Pu & Yiu Fung, Aster Hei & Yoro, Kelvin O. & Daramola, Michael O. & , 2021. "Valorization of volatile fatty acids from the dark fermentation waste Streams-A promising pathway for a biorefinery concept," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    17. Fu, Qizi & Wang, Dongbo & Li, Xiaoming & Yang, Qi & Xu, Qiuxiang & Ni, Bing-Jie & Wang, Qilin & Liu, Xuran, 2021. "Towards hydrogen production from waste activated sludge: Principles, challenges and perspectives," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    18. Oliot, Manon & Galier, Sylvain & Roux de Balmann, Hélène & Bergel, Alain, 2016. "Ion transport in microbial fuel cells: Key roles, theory and critical review," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1682-1704.
    19. Zhang, Ying & Liu, Mengmeng & Zhou, Minghua & Yang, Huijia & Liang, Liang & Gu, Tingyue, 2019. "Microbial fuel cell hybrid systems for wastewater treatment and bioenergy production: Synergistic effects, mechanisms and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 13-29.
    20. Elia Judith Martínez & Ana Sotres & Cristián B. Arenas & Daniel Blanco & Olegario Martínez & Xiomar Gómez, 2019. "Improving Anaerobic Digestion of Sewage Sludge by Hydrogen Addition: Analysis of Microbial Populations and Process Performance," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-15, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:rensus:v:207:y:2025:i:c:s1364032124006737. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/600126/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.