Multi-electrode bioelectrochemical system for the treatment of high total dissolved solids bearing chemical based wastewater

Multi-electrode bioelectrochemical treatment system (ME-BET; membrane less) consisting of six electrode assemblies (E1-E6) was designed and fabricated for the treatment of complex chemical based wastewater with high salt concentration. The performance was compared with single electrode assembly BET reactor (SE-BET). Enhanced TDS and COD removal was observed in ME-BET (32%; 56%) compared to SE-BET (15%; 23%) as a result of in situ bio-potential from multi-electrodes through the oxidation of organic substrate in the wastewater. Inorganic pollutants viz., nitrates (28%; 8%), sulphates (25%; 9%) and phosphates (20%; 7%) removal was higher in ME-BET in comparison with SE-BET and this was also supported with bioelectrogenic activity (584; 160 mW/m3). The study infers that designing of compact reactors with multiple electrodes in a single system enhances the anodic reactions and enable effective treatment of complex wastewaters with simultaneous power production.