US 12,497,311 B2 · Bio-electrochemical sensor, system, and method for optimizing performance of a water or wastewater treatment system

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a sensor for monitoring metabolic activity of a population of exo-electrogenic bacteria in response to one or more agents in oxygenated water or wastewater in a water or wastewater treatment system. The sensor comprises: at least one electrode pair comprising an anode and a cathode, the anode in electrical communication with the exo-electrogenic bacteria for receiving electrons therefrom; a current sensor for measuring electron flow between the anode and the cathode and producing an electrical output that correlates with metabolic activity of the exo-electrogenic bacteria; and a power source in electrical communication with the electrode pair for delivering a voltage across the electrode pair. A method, system, and exo-electrogenic bacteria used for monitoring and/or controlling one or more agents in oxygenated water or wastewater is also provided.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A bio-electrochemical sensor for monitoring metabolic activity of a population of aero-tolerant exo-electrogenic bacteria in response to one or more agents in oxygenated water or oxygenated wastewater in a water or wastewater treatment system, the sensor comprising:

at least one electrode pair comprising an anode and a cathode, the anode having a biofilm comprising two or more layers formed thereon, wherein each of the layers of the biofilm comprises aero-tolerant exo-electrogenic bacteria, wherein the anode is in electrical communication with the aero-tolerant exo-electrogenic bacteria for receiving electrons therefrom,
a current sensor for measuring electron flow between the anode and the cathode and producing an electrical output that correlates with metabolic activity of the aero-tolerant exo-electrogenic bacteria;
and
a power source in electrical communication with the electrode pair for delivering a voltage of from about 0.1V to about 1.5V across the electrode pair.

1 more element

A system for monitoring and/or delivering one or more agents in oxygenated water or oxygenated wastewater in a water or wastewater treatment system, the system comprising:

an aerobic chamber;
a bio-electrochemical sensor for monitoring metabolic activity of a population of aero-tolerant exo-electrogenic bacteria and providing an electrical output corresponding with the metabolic activity, the bio-electrochemical sensor comprising:
at least one electrode pair, each electrode pair comprising an anode and a cathode located within the aerobic chamber, the anode having a biofilm comprising two or more layers formed thereon, wherein each of the layers of the biofilm comprises aero-tolerant exo-electrogenic bacteria,
a power source for delivering a voltage of from about 0.1V to about 1.5V across the electrode pair;
and
an electrical output analyzer for analyzing the electrical output and correlating the electrical output with the one or more agents in the water or wastewater treatment system;
and
optionally a pump operably coupled to the electric output analyzer for controlling the delivery of the one or more agents.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Bio-electrochemical sensor, system, and method for optimizing performance of a water or wastewater treatment system

Life of this patent

Bio-electrochemical sensor, system, and method for optimizing performance of a water or wastewater treatment system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18