Microbial electrosynthesis of acetate from CO_(2)under hypersaline conditions

Microbial electrosynthesis(MES)enables the bioproduction of multicarbon compounds from CO_(2)using electricity as the driver.Although high salinity can improve the energetic performance of bioelectrochemical systems,acetogenic processes under elevated salinity are poorly known.Here MES under 35e60 g L^(-1)salinity was evaluated.Acetate production in two-chamber MES systems at 35 g L^(-1)salinity(seawater composition)gradually decreased within 60 days,both under-1.2 V cathode potential(vs.Ag/AgCl)and^(-1).56 A m^(-2)reductive current.Carbonate precipitation on cathodes(mostly CaCO3)likely declined the production through inhibiting CO_(2)supply,the direct electrode contact for acetogens and H2 production.Upon decreasing Ca2t and Mg2t levels in three-chamber reactors,acetate was stably produced over 137 days along with a low cathode apparent resistance at 1.9±0.6 mU m^(2)and an average production rate at 3.80±0.21 g m^(-2)d^(-1).Increasing the salinity step-wise from 35 to 60 g L^(-1)gave the most efficient acetate production at 40 g L^(-1)salinity with average rates of acetate production and CO_(2)consumption at 4.56±3.09 and 7.02±4.75 g m^(-2)d^(-1),respectively.The instantaneous coulombic efficiency for VFA averaged 55.1±31.4%.Acetate production dropped at higher salinity likely due to the inhibited CO_(2)dissolution and acetogenic metabolism.Acetobacterium up to 78%was enriched on cathodes as the main acetogen at 35 g L^(-1).Under high-salinity selection,96.5%Acetobacterium dominated on the cathode along with 34.0%Sphaerochaeta in catholyte.This research provides a first proof of concept that MES starting from CO_(2)reduction can be achieved at elevated salinity.

In silico assessment of household level closed water cycles:Towards extreme decentralization

Water management in most of the developed world is currently practiced in a highly centralized manner,leading to major infrastructure and energy costs to transport water.To decrease the impacts of water scarcity and climate change,the decentralization of water can increase local robustness.In extremis,decentralization can involve building or house level water supply and treatment.Here,we constructed a MATLAB/Simulink model for two decentralized water management configurations at the household level,assuming the socio-environmental setting of Flanders,Belgium.Independence from the potable water grid and sewer system was pursued through rainwater harvesting,reuse of wastewater streams fitfor-purpose,and discharge via infiltration.The mass balance for water was calculated over the system boundaries showing high potential for independence from the grid with a reasonable treatment train and storage options.Next,the risk of contaminant accumulation within the circular system was assessed,showing a key limitation on decentralized system performance necessitating a system purge.Up to 59%of system rainwater usage was due to the replacement of this purge.Employing treatment units with high(95%)contaminant rejection efficiencies eliminated contaminant accumulation issues.The raw model output was quantitatively assessed by constructing four newly proposed key performance indicators(KPIs),quantifying system independence,circularity,drought tolerance and local water body recharge,which allowed for facilitated system comparison and communication to stakeholders.A sensitivity analysis was performed in which the effect of input parameter variability and uncertainty on system performance was quantified.The sensitivity analysis showed the importance of water recovery and contaminant removal efficiencies of the applied treatment technologies on system performance when contaminant accumulation in the system forms an issue.In systems not severely affected by pollutant accumulation,parameters such as inhabitant number and roof surface had the largest effect.As a whole,this work shows the potential of extreme decentralization of water systems and addresses the obstacle towards implementation formed by the accumulation of contaminants due to system circularity.Additionally,this study provides a framework for operational and technological decision support of decentralized household-scale water systems and,by extension,for future water policy-making.