Issue 2, 2016

A liter-scale microbial capacitive deionization system for the treatment of shale gas wastewater

Abstract

Sustainable wastewater management is among the biggest challenges in shale oil and gas exploration and production. Here we present the first prototype microbial capacitive deionization (MCD) system for both organic carbon and total dissolved solids (TDS) removal from wastewater with simultaneous electricity production. The 2.2 liter spiral wound reactor was operated continuously for nearly 2 years using actual flow back and produced water, and it was equipped with 11 electrical sensors for real time water quality monitoring. The system was capable of generating 89–131 W m−3 power while removing up to 10.2 g TDS L−1 per day and 75% of the chemical oxygen demand (COD). Additionally, the influence of electrical potential applied to a capacitive deionization assembly on microbial electron transfer was characterized for the first time. The MCD system is inexpensive to operate ($0.10 per barrel) with an additional advantage of extra water production due to the use of sodium percarbonate as an electron acceptor. The MCD technology presents a new process for water and energy positive produced water treatment.

Graphical abstract: A liter-scale microbial capacitive deionization system for the treatment of shale gas wastewater

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
12 Sep 2015
Accepted
14 Jan 2016
First published
14 Jan 2016

Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2016,2, 353-361

Author version available

A liter-scale microbial capacitive deionization system for the treatment of shale gas wastewater

C. Forrestal, A. Haeger, L. Dankovich IV, T. Y. Cath and Z. J. Ren, Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2016, 2, 353 DOI: 10.1039/C5EW00211G

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements