Microbial electrolysis cells and methods for the production of chemical products
AssigneeArizona Science and Technology Enterprises LLC
InventorsSudeep Popat, Prathap Parameswaran, Cesar Torres, Bruce Rittmann
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Abstract
A microbial electrolysis cell having a brush anode is described. A method of producing products, such as hydrogen, at the cathode of the microbial electrolysis cell is also provided. The microbial electrolysis cell is configured in a cylindrical shape having an anode, cathode and anion exchange membrane all disposed concentrically. A brush anode spirally wound around the outside of the cylindrical microbial electrolysis cell is described. The method may include sparging the anode and/or cathode with air in some cases. In addition, CO2-containing gas may be injected into a cathode chamber to reduce pH is some cases.
Claims23
A microbial electrolysis cell, comprising:
- a high surface-area brush anode;
- a cathode;
- a power source operatively connected to the brush anode and the cathode;
- an anion exchange membrane separating the brush anode from the cathode;
- and
- a reaction chamber containing the brush anode, the cathode and the anion exchange membrane
- wherein a separation distance between the brush anode and the cathode is not greater than about 1.5 cm, and wherein the anion exchange membrane operatively separates the reaction chamber into an anode chamber containing the brush anode and a cathode chamber containing the cathode.
A multi-module microbial electrolysis cell treatment apparatus, comprising:
- a treatment tank having an inlet for influent and an outlet for effluent;
- and
- a plurality of cylindrical microbial electrolysis cells operatively disposed within the treatment tank, the microbial electrolysis cells comprising:
- a high surface-area brush anode;
- a cathode;
- a power source operatively connected to the brush anode and the cathode;
- and
- an anion exchange membrane separating the brush anode from the cathode,
- wherein the brush anode, the cathode and the anion exchange membrane comprise substantially cylindrical bodies that are disposed in a substantially concentric relationship to form the cylindrical microbial electrolysis cells, and wherein the anion exchange membrane operatively separates the influent from the effluent in the treatment tank.
A method for the production of H2 from a fluid stream comprising organic matter in a microbial electrolysis cell, comprising the steps of:
- providing at least one microbial electrolysis cell comprising:
- an anode disposed in an anode chamber,
- a cathode disposed in a cathode chamber,
- a power source operatively connected to the anode and the cathode, and
- an anion exchange membrane separating the anode and the cathode,
- contacting the fluid stream with anode-respiring bacteria disposed on the anode;
- contacting the cathode with a cathode solution comprising H2O;
- and
- removing, from the cathode chamber, a gaseous composition comprising at least 98% H2.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.