Ambient CO2 capture and storage in bioelectrochemically mediated wastewater treatment. (September 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Huang, Zhe; Jiang, Daqian; Lu, Lu; Ren, Zhiyong Jason
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 215(2016)
• Page Start: 380
• Page End: 385
• Publication Date: 2016-09
• Subjects: Microbial electrolysis -- Ambient CO2 capture -- Wastewater treatment -- Carbonization -- Microbial electrolytic carbon capture; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.084
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Highlights: Uses wastewater to capture CO2 from ambient air and convert it to useful products. Energy can be generated during microbial electrolysis and carbon capture. Carries significant environmental and economic potential in large scale. Abstract: This study reports that wastewater can be used to capture and store CO2 directly from ambient air and produce energy. The proof-of-concept system consisted of an ion exchange resin column that captures and concentrates ambient CO2 using a moisture-driven cycle. The concentrated CO2 was then transferred into a microbial electrochemical carbon capture (MECC) reactor for carbon sequestration and hydrogen production. Data from an average batch cycle showed that approximately 8 mmol/L CO2 was captured in the MECC cathode when 0.14 g/L COD was removed in the anode. With 90% hydrogen conversion efficiency, the energy intensity and CO2 absorption from the process could be 11.3 kJ/gCOD and 0.49 gCO2 /gCOD respectively. If the proposed process is applied, over 68 million tons of atmospheric CO2 can be captured yearly during wastewater treatment in the US, which equates to significant economic values if CO2 taxes were to be implemented more widely.