Development of microbial electrochemical cells for hydrogen production and autotrophic denitrification

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Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) faces increasing pollutant loads as populations and industries have expanded in Canada. Construction of new WWTPs would not be a feasible solution to deal with increasing pollutant loadings due to either a lack of funding or available land area. As an alternative, many regions and municipalities have initiated surcharge programs for overstrength industrial wastewaters. Elementary Water Solutions Inc. (EWS) that specializes in industrial wastewater treatment have successfully reduced biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and total suspended solids in food and beverage wastewaters below municipal bylaw limits. However, some regions and municipalities are implementing a sewer discharge bylaw including total nitrogen below 100 mg/L. Current wastewater treatment systems that EWS has worked with cannot decrease total nitrogen, while wastewaters of potential clients have total nitrogen concentration more than 100 mg/L. For EWS to keep its competitiveness and expand its market share the development of an efficient biological nitrogen process is essential. The objective of the proposed research is to evaluate hydrogen gas production with microbial electrochemical cells (MECs) using industrial wastewaters as electron donor. We will evaluate hydrogen gas yield against BOD removal and its production rate. Then, operating conditions (applied voltage and hydraulic retention time) for the highest hydrogen yield and rate will be optimized. Results of this project will allow EWS to continue development of a sustainable nitrogen control process that combines the hydrogen-producing MEC with autotrophic denitrification process.