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Chapter 3 Key elements and materials in microbial desalination cells
No full textThis chapter presents the most relevant advances achieved during the MIDES project in relation to material development of key elements for microbial desalination cells. The first section is devoted to electrodes. Providing a general overview of the requirements of carbon-based materials to serve either as anodes or cathodes for microbial desalination cells. Advances achieved during MIDES in the development of materials for anode and cathode application are listed. The second section is focussed on ion-exchange membranes for microbial desalination cells. General considerations for the use of these membranes are reported as well as key parameters. Finally, advances in ion-exchange membrane development, in terms of antifouling and their performance in desalination trials, achieved during the MIDES project, are reported
Multiple stressors in Mediterranean coastal wetland ecosystems: Influence of salinity and an insecticide on zooplankton communities under different temperature conditions
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Celdas de desalinización microbiana: producción de agua potable con bajo coste energético
No full textLa tecnología de celdas de desalinización microbiana (en inglés, Microbial
Desalination Cell, MDC) es capaz simultáneamente de tratar aguas residuales, generar energía y desalar agua en un sólo dispositivo sin aporte de energía externo. El objetivo de este trabajo es la comparación en el rendimiento y eficiencia de desalinización de agua salobre y agua de mar de dos sistemas MDC similares operando con dos estrategias diferentes: cátodo de difusión de aire y catolito líquido (complejo de ferro-ferricianuro potásico)
The Acquisition of Colistin Resistance Is Associated to the Amplification of a Large Chromosomal Region in Klebsiella pneumoniae kp52145
No full textThe appearance of carbapenem-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae has increased the use of
colistin as a last-resort antibiotic for treating infections by this pathogen. A consequence of its use
has been the spread of colistin-resistant strains, in several cases carrying colistin resistance genes.
In addition, when susceptible strains are confronted with colistin during treatment, mutation is a
major cause of the acquisition of resistance. To analyze the mechanisms of resistance that might be
selected during colistin treatment, an experimental evolution assay for 30 days using as a model
the clinical K. pneumoniae kp52145 isolate in the presence of increasing amounts of colistin was
performed. All evolved populations presented a decreased susceptibility to colistin, without showing
cross-resistance to antibiotics belonging to other structural families. We did not find any common
mutation in the evolved mutants, neither in already known genes, previously known to be associated
with the resistance phenotype, nor in new ones. The only common genetic change observed in the
strains that evolved in the presence of colistin was the amplification of a 34 Kb sequence, homologous
to a prophage (Enterobacteria phage Fels-2). Our data support that gene amplification can be a
driving force in the acquisition of colistin resistance by K. pneumoniae
Cyclic olefin polymer as a novel membrane material for membrane distillation applications
No full textOptimization of UV-photografting factors in preparation of polyacrylic-polyethersulfone forward osmosis membrane using response surface methodology
No full textAlgae-Assisted Microbial Desalination Cell: Analysis of Cathode Performance and Desalination Efficiency Assessment
No full textAlgae-assisted microbial desalination cells represent a sustainable technology for low-energy fresh water production in which microalgae culture is integrated into the system to enhance oxygen reduction reaction in the cathode chamber. However, the water production (desalination rate) is low compared to conventional technologies (i.e., reverse osmosis and/or electrodialysis), as biocathodes provide low current generation to sustain the desalination process. In this sense, more research efforts on this topic are necessary to address this bottleneck. Thus, this study provides analysis, from the electrochemical point of view, on the cathode performance of an algae-assisted microbial desalination cell (MDC) using Chlorella vulgaris. Firstly, the system was run with a pure culture of Chlorella vulgaris suspension in the cathode under conditions of an abiotic anode to assess the cathodic behavior (i.e., cathode polarization curves in light-dark conditions and oxygen depletion). Secondly, Geobacter sulfurreducens was inoculated in the anode compartment of the MDC, and the desalination cycle was carried out. The results showed that microalgae could generate an average of 9–11.5 mg/L of dissolved oxygen during the light phase, providing enough dissolved oxygen to drive the migration of ions (i.e., desalination) in the MDC system. Moreover, during the dark phase, a residual concentration of oxygen (ca. 5.5–8 mg/L) was measured, indicating that oxygen was not wholly depleted under our experimental conditions. Interestingly, the oxygen concentration was restored (after complete depletion of dissolved oxygen by flushing with N2) as soon as microalgae were exposed to the light phase again. After a 31 h desalination cycle, the cell generated a current density of 0.12 mA/cm2 at an efficiency of 60.15%, 77.37% salt was removed at a nominal desalination rate of 0.63 L/m2/h, coulombic efficiency was 9%, and 0.11 kWh/m3 of electric power was generated. The microalgae-assisted biocathode has an advantage over the air diffusion and bubbling as it can self-sustain a steady and higher concentration of oxygen, cost-effectively regenerate or recover from loss and sustainably retain the system’s performance under naturally occurring conditions. Thus, our study provides insights into implementing the algae-assisted cathode for sustainable desalination using MDC technology and subsequent optimization
