Evaluating the effects of scaling up on the performance of bioelectrochemical systems using a technical scale microbial electrolysis cell

This study focuses on the challenges of the scaling up process of bioelectrochemical systems on the example of a technical scale microbial electrolysis cell referred to as the "prototype". Anodically treating real wastewater and operated in continuous mode at a hydraulic retention time of 1.23 d with an average chemical oxygen demand (COD)-loading rate of 0.5 g O-2 d(-1) L-Reactor(-1) the prototype on average showed COD removal efficiency of 67% with effluent concentrations of 210 mg O2L-1 and an ammonium elimination rate of 17.8 +/- 3.9 mg N d(-1) L-Reactor(-1) resulting in effluent concentrations of 30.7 +/- 3.7 mg N L-1 with a removal efficiency of 40% at a current generation of 72 mu A cm(-2) and Coulomb efficiency of 11%. A model is described as a method for comparing conventional and BES based technology using the above mentioned criteria and balancing them against the respective loading rates. (C) 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.