Life cycle assessment of high-rate anaerobic treatment, microbial fuel cells, and microbial electrolysis cells.

摘要: Existing wastewater treatment options are generally perceived as energy intensive and environmentally unfriendly. Much attention has been focused on two new approaches in the past years, (i) microbial fuel cells (ii) electrolysis cells, which directly generate electrical current or chemical products, respectively, during treatment. These systems commonly denominated bioelectrochemical systems, a multitude of claims have made regarding environmental impact these options. However, an in-depth study backing not performed. Here, we conducted life cycle assessment (LCA) to compare three industrial options, anaerobic with biogas generation, cell treatment, direct electricity (iii) cell, hydrogen peroxide production. Our analysis showed that does provide significant benefit relative "conventional" option. provides benefits through displacement production by conventional means. Provided target conversion level 1000 A.m(-3) can be met, decrease greenhouse gas emissions other harmful (e.g., aromatic hydrocarbons) will key driver for development standard this technology. Evidently, is highly dependent underlying assumptions, such used reactor materials performance. This challenge opportunity researchers field select develop appropriate benign construction, well demonstrate required performance at pilot full scale.