Microbial Fuel Cell-driven caustic potash production from wastewater for carbon sequestration
Microbial Fuel Cell-driven caustic potash production from wastewater for carbon sequestration
This work reports on the novel formation of caustic potash (KOH) directly on the MFC cathode locking carbon dioxide into potassium bicarbonate salt (kalicinite) while producing, instead of consuming electrical power. Using potassium-rich wastewater as a fuel for microorganisms to generate electricity in the anode chamber, has resulted in the formation of caustic catholyte directly on the surface of the cathode electrode. Analysis of this liquid has shown to be highly alkaline (pH > 13) and act as a CO2 sorbent. It has been later mineralised to kalicinite thus locking carbon dioxide into potassium bicarbonate salt. This work demonstrates an electricity generation method as a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly route towards CO2 sequestration that perhaps leads to a carbon negative economy. Moreover, it shows a potential application for both electricity production and nutrient recovery in the form of minerals from nutrient-rich wastewater streams such as urine for use as fertiliser in the future.
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Microbial Fuel Cell, Caustic potash, Kalicinite, Carbon capture, Wet scrubbing
285-289
Gajda, Iwona
943dd6bd-524b-4c7b-b794-dec5ee8014b7
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Melhuish, Chris
c52dcc8b-1e36-425e-80df-9d05d2b21893
Santoro, Carlo
03549f6d-d57f-4d79-8bae-2d9271aa7371
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
September 2016
Gajda, Iwona
943dd6bd-524b-4c7b-b794-dec5ee8014b7
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Melhuish, Chris
c52dcc8b-1e36-425e-80df-9d05d2b21893
Santoro, Carlo
03549f6d-d57f-4d79-8bae-2d9271aa7371
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Gajda, Iwona, Greenman, John, Melhuish, Chris, Santoro, Carlo and Ieropoulos, Ioannis
(2016)
Microbial Fuel Cell-driven caustic potash production from wastewater for carbon sequestration.
Bioresource Technology, 215, .
(doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2016.04.004).
Abstract
This work reports on the novel formation of caustic potash (KOH) directly on the MFC cathode locking carbon dioxide into potassium bicarbonate salt (kalicinite) while producing, instead of consuming electrical power. Using potassium-rich wastewater as a fuel for microorganisms to generate electricity in the anode chamber, has resulted in the formation of caustic catholyte directly on the surface of the cathode electrode. Analysis of this liquid has shown to be highly alkaline (pH > 13) and act as a CO2 sorbent. It has been later mineralised to kalicinite thus locking carbon dioxide into potassium bicarbonate salt. This work demonstrates an electricity generation method as a simple, cost-effective and environmentally friendly route towards CO2 sequestration that perhaps leads to a carbon negative economy. Moreover, it shows a potential application for both electricity production and nutrient recovery in the form of minerals from nutrient-rich wastewater streams such as urine for use as fertiliser in the future.
Previous article in issue
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Published date: September 2016
Keywords:
Microbial Fuel Cell, Caustic potash, Kalicinite, Carbon capture, Wet scrubbing
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 454402
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454402
ISSN: 0960-8524
PURE UUID: edeba586-fee3-4572-bce5-e43627600792
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Date deposited: 09 Feb 2022 17:31
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10
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Author:
Iwona Gajda
Author:
John Greenman
Author:
Chris Melhuish
Author:
Carlo Santoro
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