BIOELECTROCHEMICAL REACTOR

摘要

Disclosed is a bioelectrochemical reactor (1) for the generation of electricity from the oxidation by microbes of chemical species in a liquid, the reactor comprising an inlet (2), an outlet (3), at least one cathodic zone (5) and at least one anode (4), the interior of the reactor being configured to define a flow path for liquid from the inlet to the outlet which passes between the cathodic zone and the anode, the flow path comprising a first region and a second region wherein the first region is an acidogenic region where microbes generate more carbon dioxide in use than the second region, the reactor including a gas retaining volume which extends from the first region to the second region and which is operable to retain a gas so that carbon dioxide generated at the first region in use is transported to the second region in the gas phase, where it suppresses methane generation by microbes at the second region.