Optimizing treatment performance of microbial fuel cells by reactor staging

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are capable of producing electricity while cleaning wastewater. The goal of this work is to optimize an MFC-based wastewater treatment process to maximize the amount of wastewater that is cleaned. An MFC mathematical model is used to compare different operating modes and reactor configurations. The following observations are made based on the model analysis: (i) the ratio between the anodophilic and methanogenic populations can be controlled by the electrical load; (ii) coexistence of the two populations decreases reactor performance; (iii) MFCs that are connected in series always improve treatment efficiency; and (iv) influent and effluent concentrations can be used to define the best series configuration.Les piles microbiennes [MFC pour microbial fuel cells] sont capables de produire de l\u2019\ue9lectricit\ue9 tout en traitant les eaux us\ue9es. Le but de ces travaux est d\u2019optimiser un proc\ue9d\ue9 de traitement des eaux us\ue9es au moyen de MFC pour maximiser la quantit\ue9 d\u2019eau us\ue9e trait\ue9e. Un mod\ue8le math\ue9matique de MFC est utilis\ue9 pour comparer diff\ue9rents modes de fonctionnement et diff\ue9rentes configurations de r\ue9acteurs. L\u2019analyse de ce mod\ue8le a permis d\u2019effectuer les observations suivantes : 1) le rapport entre les populations anodophile et m\ue9thanog\ue8ne peut \ueatre r\ue9gul\ue9 par la charge \ue9lectrique; 2) la coexistence de ces deux populations diminue la performance du r\ue9acteur; 3) des MFC branch\ue9es en s\ue9rie am\ue9liorent toujours l\u2019efficacit\ue9 du traitement; 4) il est possible d\u2019utiliser les concentrations d\u2019influents et d\u2019effluents pour d\ue9finir la meilleure configuration en s\ue9rie.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye