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Delgado Y, Tapia N, Muñoz-Morales M, Ramirez Á, Llanos J, Vargas I, Fernández-Morales FJ. Effect of hydrochar-doping on the performance of carbon felt as anodic electrode in microbial fuel cells. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2024:10.1007/s11356-024-33338-2. [PMID: 38653895 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-024-33338-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 04/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
In this study, the feasibility of using hydrochars as anodic doping materials in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was investigated. The feedstock used for hydrochar synthesis was metal-polluted plant biomass from an abandoned mining site. The hydrochar obtained was activated by pyrolysis at 500 °C in N2 atmosphere. Under steady state conditions, the current exerted by the MFCs, as well as the cyclic voltammetry and polarization curves, showed that the activated hydrochar-doped anodes exhibited the best performance in terms of power and current density generation, 0.055 mW/cm2 and 0.15 mA/cm2, respectively. These values were approximately 30% higher than those achieved with non-doped or doped with non-activated hydrochar anodes which can be explained by the highly graphitic carbonaceous structures obtained during the hydrochar activation that reduced the internal resistance of the system. These results suggest that the activated hydrochar materials could significantly enhance the electrochemical performance of bioelectrochemical systems. Moreover, this integration will not only enhance the energy generated by MFCs, but also valorize metal polluted plant biomass within the frame of the circular economy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yelitza Delgado
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ITQUIMA, University of Castilla La Mancha, Campus Universitario S/N., 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Natalia Tapia
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ITQUIMA, University of Castilla La Mancha, Campus Universitario S/N., 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 7820436, Santiago, Chile
| | - Martín Muñoz-Morales
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ITQUIMA, University of Castilla La Mancha, Campus Universitario S/N., 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Álvaro Ramirez
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ITQUIMA, University of Castilla La Mancha, Campus Universitario S/N., 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Javier Llanos
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ITQUIMA, University of Castilla La Mancha, Campus Universitario S/N., 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Ignacio Vargas
- Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 7820436, Santiago, Chile
| | - Francisco Jesús Fernández-Morales
- Department of Chemical Engineering, ITQUIMA, University of Castilla La Mancha, Campus Universitario S/N., 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Acosta-Santoyo G, Treviño-Reséndez J, Robles I, Godínez LA, García-Espinoza JD. A review on recent environmental electrochemistry approaches for the consolidation of a circular economy model. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 346:140573. [PMID: 38303389 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140573] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Availability of raw materials in the chemical industry is related to the selection of the chemical processes in which they are used as well as to the efficiency, cost, and eventual evolution to more competitive dynamics of transformation technologies. In general terms however, any chemically transforming technology starts with the extraction, purification, design, manufacture, use, and disposal of materials. It is important to create a new paradigm towards green chemistry, sustainability, and circular economy in the chemical sciences that help to better employ, reuse, and recycle the materials used in every aspect of modern life. Electrochemistry is a growing field of knowledge that can help with these issues to reduce solid waste and the impact of chemical processes on the environment. Several electrochemical studies in the last decades have benefited the recovery of important chemical compounds and elements through electrodeposition, electrowinning, electrocoagulation, electrodialysis, and other processes. The use of living organisms and microorganisms using an electrochemical perspective (known as bioelectrochemistry), is also calling attention to "mining", through plants and microorganisms, essential chemical elements. New process design or the optimization of the current technologies is a major necessity to enhance production and minimize the use of raw materials along with less generation of wastes and secondary by-products. In this context, this contribution aims to show an up-to-date scenario of both environmental electrochemical and bioelectrochemical processes for the extraction, use, recovery and recycling of materials in a circular economy model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo Acosta-Santoyo
- Centro de Investigación en Química para la Economía Circular, CIQEC. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de Las Campanas, SN, Querétaro, Querétaro, 76010, Mexico
| | - José Treviño-Reséndez
- Centro de Investigación en Química para la Economía Circular, CIQEC. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de Las Campanas, SN, Querétaro, Querétaro, 76010, Mexico
| | - Irma Robles
- Centro de Investigación y Desarrollo Tecnológico en Electroquímica S.C., Parque Tecnológico Querétaro, Sanfandila, 76703, Pedro Escobedo, Querétaro, Mexico
| | - Luis A Godínez
- Centro de Investigación en Química para la Economía Circular, CIQEC. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de Las Campanas, SN, Querétaro, Querétaro, 76010, Mexico
| | - Josué D García-Espinoza
- Centro de Investigación en Química para la Economía Circular, CIQEC. Facultad de Química, Universidad Autónoma de Querétaro, Cerro de Las Campanas, SN, Querétaro, Querétaro, 76010, Mexico.
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Acosta Hernández I, Muñoz Morales M, Fernández Morales FJ, Rodríguez Romero L, Villaseñor Camacho J. Removal of heavy metals from mine tailings by in-situ bioleaching coupled to electrokinetics. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 238:117183. [PMID: 37769830 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Revised: 09/04/2023] [Accepted: 09/20/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023]
Abstract
This work utilizes a combined biological-electrochemical technique for the in-situ removal of metals from polluted mine tailings. As the main novelty point it is proposed to use electrokinetics (EK) for the in-situ activation of a bioleaching mechanism into the tailings, in order to promote biological dissolution of metal sulphides (Step 1), and for the subsequent removal of leached metals by EK transport out of the tailings (Step 2). Mine tailings were collected from an abandoned Pb/Zn mine located in central-southern Spain. EK-bioleaching experiments were performed under batch mode using a lab scale EK cell. A mixed microbial culture of autochthonous acidophilic bacteria grown from the tailings was used. Direct current with polarity reversal vs alternate current was evaluated in Step 1. In turn, different biological strategies were used: biostimulation, bioaugmentation and the abiotic reference test (EK alone). It was observed that bioleaching activation was very low during Step 1, because it was difficult to maintain acidic pH in the whole soil, but then it worked correctly during Step 2. It was confirmed that microorganisms successfully contributed to the in-situ solubilization of the metal sulphides as final metal removal rates were improved compared to the conventional abiotic EK (best increases of around 40% for Cu, 162% for Pb, 18% for Zn, 13% for Mn, 40% for Ni and 15% for Cr). Alternate current seemed to be the best option. The tailings concentrations of Fe, Al, Cu, Mn, Ni and Pb after treatment comply with regulations, but Pb, Cd and Zn concentrations exceed the maximum values. From the data obtained in this work it has been observed that EK-bioleaching could be feasible, but some upgrades and future work must be done in order to optimize experimental conditions, especially the control of soil pH in acidic values.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irene Acosta Hernández
- Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technologies (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Martín Muñoz Morales
- Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technologies (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Francisco Jesús Fernández Morales
- Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technologies (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - Luis Rodríguez Romero
- Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technologies (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - José Villaseñor Camacho
- Chemical Engineering Department, Research Institute for Chemical and Environmental Technologies (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla La Mancha UCLM, 13071 Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Sanchez-Ramos D, López-Bellido Garrido FJ, Acosta Hernández I, Rodríguez Romero L, Villaseñor Camacho J, Fernández-Morales FJ. Sustainable use of wastes as reactive material in permeable reactive barrier for remediation of acid mine drainage: Batch and continuous studies. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 345:118765. [PMID: 37604103 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.118765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2023] [Revised: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/09/2023] [Indexed: 08/23/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this work was to evaluate the feasibility of the use of different industrial and agricultural wastes as reactive materials in Permeable Reactive Barriers (PRB) for Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) remediation. Sugar foam (SF), paper mill sludge (PMS), drinking water sludge (DWS) and olive mill waste (OMW) were evaluated in terms of pH neutralization and metal removal from AMD. Laboratory batch tests and continuous pilot scale up-flow columns containing 82% of Volcanic Slag (VS), as porous fill material, and 18% w/w of one of the industrial and agricultural wastes previously indicated, were tested. From the batch tests it was observed that the reactive material presenting the best results were the SF and the PMS. The results obtained in all the PRB were accurately described by a pseudo-first order model, presenting coefficient of determination higher than 0.96 in all the cases. During the continuous operation of the PRB, the porosity and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of most of the up-flow columns strongly decreased due to chemical precipitation and biofilm growth. The SF presented a significant number of fine particles that were washed out by the liquid flow, generating an effluent with very high total suspended solid concentration. Despite SF was the material with the highest alkalinity potential, the reduction of the HRT limited its neutralization and metal removal capacity. PMS and DWS presented the best pollutant removal yields in the continuous operation of the PRB, ranging from 55 to 99% and 55-95% (except in the case of the Mn), respectively. These results allowed the metal removal from the AMD. Additionally, these wastes presented very good biological sulphate reduction. Based on these results, the use of PMS and DWS as reactive material in PRB would allow to simultaneously valorise the industrial waste, which is very interesting within the circular economy framework, and to remove metals from the AMD by means of a low-cost and environmentally sustainable procedure.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Sanchez-Ramos
- Research Group on Hydroecology, School of Civil Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Camilo José Cela S/N 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - F J López-Bellido Garrido
- Department of Plant Production and Agricultural Technology, School of Agricultural Engineering, University of Castilla-La Mancha, Ronda de Calatrava, s/n, 13003, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - I Acosta Hernández
- Chemical Engineering Department, Chemical and Environmental Technology Institute (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Camilo José Cela S/N 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - L Rodríguez Romero
- Chemical Engineering Department, Chemical and Environmental Technology Institute (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Camilo José Cela S/N 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - J Villaseñor Camacho
- Chemical Engineering Department, Chemical and Environmental Technology Institute (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Camilo José Cela S/N 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain
| | - F J Fernández-Morales
- Chemical Engineering Department, Chemical and Environmental Technology Institute (ITQUIMA), University of Castilla-La Mancha, Avenida Camilo José Cela S/N 13071, Ciudad Real, Spain.
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Saldaña M, Jeldres M, Galleguillos Madrid FM, Gallegos S, Salazar I, Robles P, Toro N. Bioleaching Modeling-A Review. MATERIALS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 16:ma16103812. [PMID: 37241440 DOI: 10.3390/ma16103812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The leaching of minerals is one of the main unit operations in the metal dissolution process, and in turn it is a process that generates fewer environmental liabilities compared to pyrometallurgical processes. As an alternative to conventional leaching methods, the use of microorganisms in mineral treatment processes has become widespread in recent decades, due to advantages such as the non-production of emissions or pollution, energy savings, low process costs, products compatible with the environment, and increases in the benefit of low-grade mining deposits. The purpose of this work is to introduce the theoretical foundations associated with modeling the process of bioleaching, mainly the modeling of mineral recovery rates. The different models are collected from models based on conventional leaching dynamics modeling, based on the shrinking core model, where the oxidation process is controlled by diffusion, chemically, or by film diffusion until bioleaching models based on statistical analysis are presented, such as the surface response methodology or the application of machine learning algorithms. Although bioleaching modeling (independent of modeling techniques) of industrial (or large-scale mined) minerals is a fairly developed area, bioleaching modeling applied to rare earth elements is a field with great growth potential in the coming years, as in general bioleaching has the potential to be a more sustainable and environmentally friendly mining method than traditional mining methods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuel Saldaña
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1110939, Chile
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Procesos de Minerales, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, Chile
| | - Matías Jeldres
- Departamento de Ingeniería Química y Procesos de Minerales, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1270300, Chile
| | | | - Sandra Gallegos
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1110939, Chile
| | - Iván Salazar
- Departamento de Ingeniería Civil, Universidad Católica del Norte, Antofagasta 1270709, Chile
| | - Pedro Robles
- Escuela de Ingeniería Química, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Valparaíso 2340000, Chile
| | - Norman Toro
- Faculty of Engineering and Architecture, Arturo Prat University, Iquique 1110939, Chile
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