Optimal temperature for microbes in an acetate fed microbial electrolysis cell (MEC)

Temperature is one of the important parameters which can significantly effect on the activity/selection of microorganism and subsequently on the reactor's performance. Two microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) were operated at different temperature settings with acetate as a carbon source. On average, COD removal rates of 16.8, 24.7, 34.0, 36.2 and 18.1 mg/l/h were recorded at 25, 29, 30, 31 and 35 degrees C, respectively. The results of volatile suspended solids analysis indicated that biomass concentration continued to drop at all temperatures, but the drop was the lowest at 30 degrees C. Consideration of biomass drop and specific COD removal rate showed 31 degrees C as the optimum temperature. These significant results imply that effect of temperature and change in biomass concentration should be considered in future experiments when expressing the removal rates. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.