Date of Award

Spring 2020

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Biology

Committee Chairperson

John Pisciotta, Ph.D.

Committee Member

One Pagan, Ph.D.

Committee Member

Gus Mbuy, Ph.D.

Committee Member

John Pisciotta, Ph.D.

Abstract

With the use of Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MECs) and anaerobic digester (AD) designs, wastewater treatment could be more effectively processed. Inoculation of anaerobic microorganisms, methanogens specifically, can help convert organic matter in wastewater metabolizing it to produce CH4. Most MECs are stationary and are not actively mixed to promote expedited CH4 production. The objective of this work was to design Wind-Actuated Vibrating Electrochemical (WAVE) digesters and utilize electrical current to increase CH4 production rates generated by anaerobic microorganisms in MECs, optimizing efficiency of wastewater treatment. It was hypothesized WAVE mixed digesters will enhance conversion of wastewater into biogas compared with conventional AD designs, and faster startup of biogas production will occur in WAVE actuated digesters vs controls. Also, higher voltage of 900 mV will result in greater biogas production compared to 700 mV or conventional AD (i.e. disconnected).

Current was applied at 700 mV and 900 mV to specified reactors in coordination with vertical and horizontal WAVE digester designs. Concluding experimentation, there was no significant difference between voltage or WAVE digester design on CH4 production concluding the 8-week study. Compared to the stationary, traditional anaerobic digester, none of the 700 mV applied MECs, despite WAVE digester design, had a significantly higher CH4 accumulation after 8 weeks. Compared to the stationary, traditional anaerobic digester, none of the 900 mV applied MECs, despite WAVE digester design, had a significantly higher CH4 accumulation after 8 weeks Compared to traditional anaerobic digesters, CH4 recovery while treating wastewater is optimized in digesters with an applied voltage.

Download

Included in

Biology Commons

Share

COinS