Performance of Exoelectrogenic Bacteria Used in Microbial Desalination Cell Technology

Li Guang, Desmond Ato Koomson, Huang Jingyu, David Ewusi-Mensah and Nicholas Miwornunyuie
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Li Guang: School of Environment, Northeast Normal University, Changchun 130024, China
Desmond Ato Koomson: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environmental Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Huang Jingyu: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environmental Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
David Ewusi-Mensah: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environmental Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China
Nicholas Miwornunyuie: Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resource Development on Shallow Lakes, College of Environmental Engineering, Hohai University, No. 1 Xikang Road, Nanjing 210098, China

IJERPH, 2020, vol. 17, issue 3, 1-12

Abstract: The tri-functional purpose of Microbial Desalination Cell (MDC) has shown a great promise in our current scarcity of water, an increase in water pollution and the high cost of electricity production. As a biological system, the baseline force that drives its performance is the presence of exoelectrogens in the anode chamber. Their presence in the anodic chamber of MDC systems enables the treatment of water, desalination of seawater, and the production of electrical energy. This study reviews the characteristics of exoelectrogens, as a driving force in MDC and examines factors which influence their growth and the performance efficiency of MDC systems. It also addresses the efficiency of mixed cultures with certain predominant species as compared to pure cultures used in MDC systems. Furthermore, the study suggests the need to genetically modify certain predominant strains in mixed cultures to enhance their performance in COD removal, desalination and power output and the integration of MDC with other technologies for cost-effective processes.

Keywords: microbial desalination cell; exoelectrogens; tri-functional process; mixed culture; predominant species; pure cultures; electron transport chain (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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