Modular bioelectrochemical systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017279147-A1
Application number	US-201715622504-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 14, 2017
Priority date	Sep 15, 2011
Publication date	Sep 28, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) having configurations with spiral wound structures and with frame-and-plate structures are provided. Systems may allow for production of an electrical current that is at least partially generated by anodophilic microorganisms connected directly or indirectly to an electrode. A spiral wound or frame-and-plate type bioelectrochemical system may include an anolyte influent point, a catholyte influent point, electrodes, ion selective membranes, mesh separators, gas collection devices, an exterior containment vessel, and one or more external electrical devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A reaction vessel to facilitate bioelectrochemical desalination of influent fluid, comprising:
an anode reaction chamber comprising one or more anode elements in fluid communication with an electrolyte solution, and one or more microorganisms associated with the one or more anode elements; a cathode reactor chamber comprising one or more cathode elements in fluid communication with an electrolyte solution; one or more deionization or desalination chambers in ion communication with the electrolyte solution; a first ion exchange membrane (IEM) located intermediately in the anode chamber and the deionization or desalination chamber; and a second IEM located intermediately in the deionization or desalination chamber and the cathode chamber.

2 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more deionization or desalination chambers comprise one or more electrode elements (i) electrically connected to the one or more anode elements, one or more cathode elements, or combinations thereof, and (ii) configured to adsorb ions from the electrolyte solution.

3 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more anode elements, the one or more cathode elements, the one or more electrode elements, or any combination thereof, comprise high surface area electrodes.

4 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the one or more anode elements, the one or more cathode elements, the one or more electrode elements, or any combination thereof, comprises a porous electrically conducting material.

5 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising one or more current collectors positioned next to one or more of the anode elements or the cathode elements.

6 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a negative potential generated by microbial activities on the one or more anode elements drives electrons to transport from the anode chamber to one or more of the deionization or desalination chamber electrolytes or one or more external resistors, and finally to the one or more of the cathode electrode elements.

7 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein cations or anions in the anode chamber or the one or more deionization or desalination chambers move towards and get adsorbed by the one or more anode elements.

8 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein cations or anions in the cathode chamber or desalination chamber move towards and get adsorbed by the one or more cathode elements.

9 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the first and second IEM are cation exchange membranes (CEM), anion exchange membranes (AEM), or any combination thereof.

10 . The reaction vessel as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the reaction vessel is a frame and plate reaction vessel.

11 . A method for removing ions from an electrolyte solution, comprising:
providing a reaction vessel having an anode reaction chamber with an anode electrode and one or more microorganisms associated with the anode electrode, a deionization chamber, and a cathode reactor chamber with a cathode electrode, wherein an ion exchange membrane (IEM) is located intermediately in the anode chamber and the deionization or and a second IEM is located intermediately in the deionization chamber and the cathode chamber; supplying the electrolyte solution into the reaction vessel; driving, via a negative potential generated by microbial activities on the anode electrode, electrons in the anode to the deionization chamber electrolytes or one or more external resistors, and to the cathode electrode.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the deionization chamber includes pairs of deionization electrodes electrically connected to one or more of the anode electrode or the cathode electrode, and wherein the method further comprises:
adsorbing, at the deionization electrode, ions from the electrolyte solution.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein cations or anions in the anode chamber move towards and get adsorbed by the anode electrode, or anions or cations in the cathode chamber move towards and get adsorbed by the cathode electrode.

14 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising, after the electrodes become saturated with ions:
removing the adsorbed ions from the saturated electrodes to concentrate the electrolyte solution.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the removing comprises one or more of:
switching a polarity of the activated electrodes, or applying an external DC potential to the activated electrodes.

16 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrodes are used as energy storage devices.

17 . The method of claim 11 , wherein electrical potential generated on the electrodes form a capacitor for ion adsorption.

18 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
coupling an external electrical device with the electrodes, the external electrical device comprising one or more of a resistor, a DC/DC inverter, a computer, a power source, a capacitor, a transistor, or any combination thereof

19 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising:
connecting a plurality of reaction vessels together in a stack configuration.

20 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the electrolyte solution comprises a saltwater solution, a brackish solution, or a wastewater solution.

Assignees

• Univ Colorado Regents

Inventors

• Ren Zhiyong
• Forrestal Casey
• Xu Pei

Classifications

• Y02E60/50

  Fuel cells · CPC title

• H01M8/16 Primary

  Biochemical fuel cells, i.e. cells in which microorganisms function as catalysts · CPC title

• C02F3/1268

  Membrane bioreactor systems · CPC title

• C02F2303/10

  Energy recovery · CPC title

• Y02W10/30

  Wastewater or sewage treatment systems using renewable energies · CPC title