In this research, a microbial desalination system (MDS, essentially a microbial fuel cell) for simultaneous treatment of produced wastewater from biodiesel cleaning process and brackish groundwater was investigated. Produced wastewater was fed into the anodic compartment where microorganisms under anaerobic conditions convert organic substrates into CO2. As substrate is degraded and protons are released, a current stream is generated which prompts migration of anions and cations (Na+ and Cl-) from the middle chamber containing brackish groundwater thus facilitating desalination of brackish water. This way, the combined system will provide for treatment of process wastewater, desalination of groundwater and algal cultivation in CO2 - nutrient rich treated wastewater as well as producing electricity, and valuable algal bio-products. Fundamental working principles and theoretical analysis of the integrated system will be presented. Experimental results and preliminary economic analysis of the proposed system and comparison with other existing biological treatment processes will be presented.

Biodiesel produced wastewater treatment combined with desalination in bioelectrochemical systems

245th National Meeting (2013)

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