ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Embedding Microbial Fuel Cells into the Vertical
Flow Constructed Wetland Enhanced
Denitrogenation and Water Purification
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School of Resource and Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, Hubei, P.R. China
Submission date: 2018-01-23
Final revision date: 2018-04-08
Acceptance date: 2018-04-16
Online publication date: 2018-12-13
Publication date: 2019-02-18
Corresponding author
Shibin Xia
School of Resource & Environmental Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan 430070, PR China, School of Resources and Environment Engineering, Wuhan University of Technology, 122 Luo Shi Road, H, 430070 Wuhan, China
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2019;28(3):1799-1804
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ABSTRACT
Constructed wetlands have been extensively applied for treating drinking water sources and other
water bodies that are not severely polluted due to their low construction and operation costs. In this
regard, microbial fuel cells (MFC) could potentially achieve both energy generation and wastewater
purification, though the construction cost is high. Based on the bio-electrochemical theory, a novel
device of the integrated vertical flow constructed wetland (IVCW) embedded with MFC (IVCW-MFC)
was designed and built for treating the slightly-polluted source waters with relatively high nitrogen
and low carbon, where denitrification was usually hindered. Both water purification performance
and electrical characteristics were examined in this system. It was observed that the maximum output
voltage and power density could reach 777 mV and 8.05 mW·m-2, respectively, when the external
resistance was 6000 Ω. With a better denitrification effect, the system exhibited a more effective removal
of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nitrate. The maximum efficiency of total nitrogen (TN) removal
was as high as 97.35%, while the average removal efficiency was around 70%, even with a load of TN,
3.3 mg/L on average, in the influent. Furthermore, the macrophytes grew normally in the constructed
wetland without any influence.