Modular energy recovering water treatment devices

• US 9,505,636 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2011
• Issued: 11/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: J. Craig Venter Institute
• Original Assignee: J. Craig Venter Institute
• Inventors: Bretschger, Orianna
• Primary Examiner(s): DOUYETTE, KENNETH J
• Application Number:
  US13/521,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20130137000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,146 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4672 by electrooxydation
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 1/4676 by electroreduction
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2201/007 Modular design
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/001 Upstream control, i.e. monitoring for predictive control
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/003 Downstream control, i.e. outlet monitoring, e.g. to check the treating agents, such as halogens or ozone, leaving the process
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/02 Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/06 pH
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 2209/22 O2
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/005 Combined electrochemical biological processes aeration by electrolytically produced oxygen bubbles C02F3/202
• CPC Class Codes: C02F 3/301 Aerobic and anaerobic treatment in the same reactor
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 16/006 of fuel cells with rechargeable batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0002 Aqueous electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/08 Fuel cells with aqueous electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/16 Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 50/30 Fuel from waste, e.g. synthetic alcohol or diesel
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells

Abstract

A modular device that is optimized for preliminary water treatment and energy generation and methods for operating the same are described.

Claims

1. A modular water treatment system comprising a plurality of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), wherein each of the plurality of MFCs comprises an anode connected to a cathode by a conductive material, and wherein:

the anode is physically associated with a first microbial population; and

the cathode is physically associated with a second microbial population, the electrons transported to the cathode electrode are used as a source of energy for a distinct microbial population physically associated with the cathode, wherein at least a portion of the second microbial population is growing on the cathode surface,

the distance between the anode and cathode is less than 3 cm,

there is no proton selective material between the anode and the cathode, and

the surface area of the cathode is at least twice the surface area of the anode.

2. The water treatment system of claim 1, which further comprises a porous insulating material between the anode and cathode.

3. The water treatment system of claim 2, wherein the porous insulating material has a pore diameter of no more than about 30 μ

m.

4. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein the first microbial population is enriched for microbes able to grow in an anaerobic environment using diverse carbon sources for energy.

5. The water treatment system of claim 4, wherein the second microbial population is enriched for microbes able to grow in an aerobic environment using electrons from the cathode for energy.

6. The water treatment system of claim 5, wherein the first microbial population and the second microbial population are from the same parental microbial population.

7. The water treatment system of claim 6, wherein the parental microbial population is a microbial population naturally occurring in sewage wastewater or sludge.

8. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein the anode is positioned internal to the cathode.

9. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein the anode and the cathode are separated by no more than 2 cm.

10. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein the anode comprises a plurality of conductive particles held in place by a retaining material.

11. The water treatment system of claim 10, wherein the plurality of conductive particles comprise graphite granules, graphite felt, graphite cloth, graphite brushes or combinations thereof.

12. The water treatment system of claim 10, wherein the retaining material comprises a titanium mesh, a stainless steel mesh, a plastic mesh or a combination thereof.

13. The water treatment system of claim 10, wherein the cathode also comprises a plurality of conductive particles held in place by a retaining material.

14. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein the cathode or anode is a cylinder or column.

15. The water treatment system of claim 8, further comprising a liquid inflow means positioned at a first end of the anode and a liquid outflow means positioned at a second end of the anode.

16. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the MFCs operate in series.

17. The water treatment system of claim 1, wherein at least a subset of the MFCs operate in parallel.