Ammonia treatment administrator: Why can this battery save fish lives?

Author: Duan Yuechu

Ammonia is a toxic compound that can harm fish. Fish feed and feces are the main sources of ammonia in catfish culture ponds. High concentrations of ammonia can cause mortality. Therefore, it is necessary to control the presence of ammonia to minimize the possibility of fish mortality.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a technology that helps with ammonia bioremediation. They are devices that use microorganisms to directly convert chemical energy in organic matter into electrical energy. In recent years, MFCs have received widespread attention in the field of ammonia nitrogen bioremediation. Ammonia nitrogen is a product of aquaculture and has potential hazards to farmed species and humans. Therefore, it is of great significance to use MFC technology to treat ammonia nitrogen wastewater.

In MFC, organic matter is decomposed by microorganisms and releases electrons and protons. Electrons are transferred to the cathode through an external circuit to form an electric current; protons are transferred to the cathode through a proton exchange membrane and combine with an oxidant (usually oxygen) to generate water. This process can be applied to the bioremediation of ammonia nitrogen, converting ammonia nitrogen into harmless substances.

In the experimental study, different inoculants were used to start the MFC, such as anaerobic sludge and riverbed sediment, to study their effects on ammonia nitrogen removal. The results showed that the MFC started with different inoculants had different tolerances to ammonia nitrogen concentrations. In addition, the power generation performance of the MFC can be adjusted by changing the ammonia nitrogen concentration and the size of the external resistor.

In order to improve the application effect of MFC in ammonia nitrogen bioremediation, researchers also studied the effects of different domestication methods on the power generation performance of MFC with phenol as the substrate. In addition, the bio-enhanced treatment method of high ammonia nitrogen wastewater has also received attention. Through the anaerobic-anoxic-aerobic combined process and immobilization technology, efficient removal of ammonia nitrogen has been achieved.

In summary, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have great potential in the field of ammonia nitrogen bioremediation. By optimizing the inoculum, domestication method and operating conditions of MFCs, the efficiency of ammonia nitrogen removal can be improved, providing a green and sustainable technical means for aquaculture and environmental governance.

Reference: Application of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for Bioremediation of Ammonia | Scientific.Net https://www.scientific.net/JBBBE.62.63