A Novel Bio-electrochemical Cell with Rotating Cylinder Cathode for Cadmium Removal from Simulated Wastewater

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Biochemical Engineering Department, Al-Khwarizmi College of Engineering, University of Baghdad, Iraq

Abstract

A Novel microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) with a packed bed rotating cathode was utilized to evaluate the removal of cadmium (Cd) from a simulated wastewater. Effects of operating factors that govern the cathodic deposition of cadmium, such as the applied voltage across the cell, the initial concentration of cadmium, the initial pH of the catholyte, and the cathode rotation speed were studied. It was found that the applied cell voltage plays the main role that effect on the cadmium removal efficiency where higher removal efficiency of Cd could be obtained as the applied voltage increases, while the increase in the initial concentration of Cd has the opposite effect. The increase in pH up to 6 improves the removal efficiency as well as the increase in rotation speed up to 500 rpm gives a higher removal efficiency. The optimal working parameters were an applied voltage of 1.5 V, initial Cd concentration of 150 ppm, initial pH of 6, and rotation speed of 300 rpm, which resulted in Cd removal efficiency of 99.13% and specific energy consumption of 0.918 KWh/kg Cd, that is significantly less than the energy required for cadmium removal using the traditional electrolysis approach. These findings showed that MEC with the new design could be a cost-effective and efficient way to remove Cd from wastewaters.

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Egyptian Journal of Chemistry
Volume 65, Issue 132 - Serial Number 13
Special Issue: Chemistry and Global Challenges (Part B)
December 2022
Pages 769-778

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History

  • Receive Date: 04 July 2022
  • Revise Date: 26 July 2022
  • Accept Date: 03 August 2022

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