Saturated constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell system and effect on dissolved oxygen gradient, electricity generation and ammonium removal

The aim of this work was to assess effect of saturated constructed wetland-Microbial fuel cell system on dissolved oxygen gradient, electricity generation and ammonium removal. Two laboratory-scale systems, one planted with Schoenoplectus californicus (SCW1-MFC) and other without plant (SCW2-MFC), were fed discontinuously with synthetic wastewater over 90 days. Both systems were operated at different organic loading rate (12 and 28 g COD/m2d) and ammonium loading rate (1.6 and 3.0 g NH4+- N/m2 d) under open circuit and close circuit mode. The results indicate that between lower and upper zones of wetlands the average values were in the range of 1.22 ± 0.32 to 1.39 ± 0.27 mg O2/L in SCW1-MFC and 1.28 ± 0.24 to 1.56 ± 0.31 mg O2/L in SCW2-MFC. The effect of operating mode (closed and open circuit) and vegetation on DO was not significant (p > 0.05). Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiencies, fluctuated between 90 and 95% in the SCW1-MFC and 82 and 94% in the SCW2-MFC system. Regarding NH4+- N, removal efficiencies were above 85% in both systems reaching values maximus 98%. The maximum power density generated was 4 and 10 mW/m2 in SCW1-MFC, while SCW2-MFC recorded the highest values (12 and 22 mW/m2).