Minimizing salinity accumulation via regulating draw solute concentration in a bioelectrochemically assisted osmotic membrane bioreactor

A suitable draw solute (DS) concentration in bioelectrochemically assisted osmotic membrane bioreactor (BEA-OMBR) can convert the "negative effect" of salinity accumulation into a "beneficial effect" by using the reverse-fluxed DS as a buffer agent or a carbon source supplement. Herein, the effect of DS concentration from acid buffer solution (i.e., ammonium chloride, NH4Cl), alkaline buffer solution (i.e., sodium bicarbonate, NaHCO3), and organic solution (i.e., sodium acetate, NaOAc) on salinity accumulation was systematically investigated. Salinity accumulation with NaHCO3 DS mainly derived from reversal fluxed sodium ion (Na+, major contributor with DS concentration <= 0.25 M) and bicarbonate ion (main contributor with DS concentration <= 0.50 M): Na+ accumulation could be mitigated by Na+ transport dominant by electrically driven migration (i.e., 21.3-62.1% of reverse-fluxed Na+), and bicarbonate accumulation could be reduced by buffer system. A medium-low concentration of 0.25 M NH4Cl DS had a better performance on current density of 165.0 +/- 23.0 A m(-3) and COD removal efficiency of 91.5 +/- 3.4% by taking advantage that 77.7 +/- 1.3% of reverse-fluxed ammonium could be removed by biological treatment and ammonium transport. A high NaOAc DS concentration (i.e., <= 0.05 M) exhibited a higher current density of 145.3-146.0 A m(-3) but a lower COD removal efficiency due to the limited carbon source utilization capacity of anaerobic bacteria. Both concentration diffusion (20.9-28.3%) and electrically driven migration (29.5-39.4%) promoted reverse-fluxed Na+ transport to catholyte and thus mitigated Na+ accumulation in the feed/anolyte. These findings have provided an optimal DS concentration for BEA-OMBR operation and thus encourage its further development. (C) 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.