Seasonal variations of pollutants removal and microbial activity in integrated constructed wetland–microbial fuel cell systems

Abstract

This study investigated the seasonal variations of pollutants removal and microbial activity in constructed wetland–microbial fuel cell systems (CW–MFCs). The results showed that the atmospheric temperature significantly influenced the bioelectricity generation and removal of organics and nitrogen in CW–MFCs by primarily influencing the microbial enzymatic activity. The electricity output of CW-MFCs was extremely low below 5 °C, and reached the maximum above 25 °C. The organics and nitrogen removal of closed-circuit CW–MFC reached the highest in summer and autumn, followed by spring, and decreased by an average of 10.5% COD, 14.2% NH3-N and 10.7% TN in winter, demonstrating smaller seasonal fluctuations compared to open-circuit CW–MFC in which the difference between summer and winter was 13.4% COD, 15.1% NH3-N and 15.1% TN. Even at low temperatures, the MFC current could enhance the enzymatic activity and stabilize the growth of microorganisms on the electrodes, moreover, the closed circuit operation can promote the bacteria diversity on CW–MFC anodes as well as the abundance of electrogens on CW–MFC anodes and cathodes, and thus reduce the adverse effect of cooling on organics and nitrogen removal in CWs. However, neither MFC nor temperature had a significant influence on phosphorus removal in CW–MFCs.