Electricity production from a bio-electrochemical cell for silver recovery in alkaline media

The recovery of silver from ammonia chelated silver alkaline waste water, COD removal from acetate waste water and electricity production in a dual chamber bio-electrochemical cell was investigated. The results indicated that pure silver could be deposited on cathode with over 99.9% silver ions removed from the catholyte while over 83% COD could be removed from anolyte simultaneously. As a result, the maximum electricity of 3.2 J and 160 C charges could be produced and 1.6 g Ag could be recovered on the cathode when 1 g COD was removed from the anolyte in the bio-electrochemical cell.