Bio-electrochemical system for treating wastewater

Abstract

The invention relates to bio-electrochemical systems for treating wastewater, and sour gas produced by anaerobic digestion of organic material. The invention further relates to novel anode/cathode pairing schemes, and electric and hydraulic architectures for use in bio-electrochemical systems.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A filtration system, comprising:
 one or more pre-treatment chambers for pre-treating wastewater; and   an anaerobic reaction chamber connected to the one or more pre-treatment chambers, wherein the chamber comprises a plurality of conductive structures arranged in substantial, proximal horizontal succession, each structure configured to be proximal to a population of microbes to transfer or accept electrons and each at a potential set by the population of the microbes.   
     
     
         2 . The system as in  claim 1  wherein the microbes comprise methanogenic, microbes. 
     
     
         3 . The system as in  claim 1  further comprising at least one power source configured to apply a voltage to pairs of the structures. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one power source is configured to apply the same voltage to each of the pairs of structures. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein the at least one power source is configured to apply a different voltage to one or more pairs of the structures. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said structures are comprised of a material selected from the group consisting of: biochar, graphite granules, stainless steel, wire mesh, carbon mesh, carbon cloth, carbon fiber, carbon felt, carbon granules, conductive paint, and a coating comprised of carbon in binder. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein said structures are comprised of a stainless steel mesh coated with an activated carbon/binder mixture. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein one or more of said structures are comprised of two or more materials. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein each of said structures are separated by an insulating layer. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said insulating layer comprises a plastic material. 
     
     
         11 . The system as in  claim 1  further comprising an electron storage device disposed between one or more pairs of the structures. 
     
     
         12 . The system as in  claim 3  wherein the microbes comprise at least one sulfide-oxidizing microbe, wherein the applied voltage facilitates electron transfer within pairs of structures to initiate oxidation of a sour gas. 
     
     
         13 . The system as in  claim 12  wherein the sour gas comprises hydrogen sulfide.