Energy production from treatment of industrial wastewater and boron removal in aqueous solutions using microbial desalination cell

As a result of a much needed paradigm shift worldwide, treated saline water is being considered as a viable option for replacing freshwater resources in agricultural irrigation. Vastly produced geothermal brine in Turkey may pose a significant environmental risk due to its high ionic strength, specifically due to boron. Boron species, which are generally found uncharged in natural waters, are costly to remove using high-throughput membrane technologies such as reverse osmosis. Recent advances in bioelectrochemical systems (BES) has facilitated development of energetically self-sufficient wastewater treatment and desalination. In this study, removal of boron from synthetic solutions and real geothermal waters, along with simultaneous energy production, using the microbial desalination cell (MDC) were investigated. Optimization studies were conducted by varying boron concentrations (5, 10, and 20 mg L−1), air flow rates (0, 1, and 2 L min−1), electrode areas (18, 24, 36, and 72 cm2), catholyte solutions, and operating modes. Even though the highest concentration decrease was observed for 20 mg-B L−1, 5 mg-B L−1 concentration experiment gave the closest result to the 2.4 mg-B L−1 limit value asserted by WHO. Effect of electrode surface area was proven to be significant on boron removal efficiency. Employing the optimum conditions acquired with synthetic solutions, boron and COD removal efficiencies from real geothermal brine were 44.3% and 90.6%, respectively. MDC, being in its early levels of technology readiness, produced promising desalination and energy production results in removal of boron from geothermal brine. [Display omitted] •Acidified water as a catholyte solution showed significant influence on energy production.•The maximum boron removal efficiency was 79.0% at optimized conditions in fed-batch mode.•The highest COD removal efficiency was 95.5% for boron concentrations of 20 mg L−1.•The highest electrical potential and power generation were 852 mV 13.4 mW m−3.•Boron and COD removal efficiencies from geothermal brine were 44.3 and 90.6%.