Phosphorus recovery from wastewater by enhanced microbial electrolysis cell: Cathode modification and circulation operation.
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75% confidenceThis study explores the enhancement of phosphorus recovery from wastewater using microbial electrolysis cells with modified cathodes and circulation operation, achieving high recovery efficiency. The modification of stainless steel mesh cathodes with nickel-cobalt-tin composite materials significantly improves the recovery process. The optimal conditions and cyclic operation mode enable near-complete phosphorus recovery.
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Abstract
Facing the issue of phosphorus (P) resource scarcity, microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have garnered widespread attention from researchers due to their ability to recover P in the form of struvite without the need for external alkali addition. This study focuses on enhancing P recovery efficiency through modifying stainless steel mesh (SSM) cathodes with nickel-cobalt-tin (Ni-Co-Sn) composite materials and the circulation of catholyte in MECs. Results demonstrated that under optimal electrodeposition parameters (current density: 0.3 A/dm 2 , duration: 1800 s, temperature: 50 °C, and Ni:Co:Sn molar ion ratio of 2:1:0.5), the Ni-Co-Sn-SSM cathode system significantly reduced the charge transfer resistance of the original SSM, achieved a solution pH of 8.85 within 12 h, and exhibited exceptional P recovery efficiency of 87.5 %. In cyclic operation mode with controlled conditions, the P recovery efficiency reached 96.4 % within 8 h and attained near-complete recovery (99.9 %) after 12 h. The Ni-Co-Sn-SSM cathode enhances P recovery by maximizing hydrogen adsorption and desorption, increasing OH - generation, improving hydrogen evolution catalytic activity, and expanding the specific surface area to boost active sites and catholyte pH. Cathode modification and catholyte circulation significantly enhance P recovery, offering a sustainable solution for efficient P resource recycling.