Integrated desalination cell enhanced water forest

Abstract

This invention belongs to the field of ecological purification technology, specifically disclosing an integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest, comprising a net frame, a net cover, a rock wool body, electrodes, an ion exchange membrane, and emergent plants. The net frame has an opening at the top, and the net cover is fitted onto the net frame. The rock wool body is placed within the net frame, comprising several vertically arranged rock wool layers. The electrodes include cathodes and anodes erected on both sides of the rock wool body, sandwiched between the side of the net frame and the rock wool body. The ion exchange membrane is vertically embedded within the rock wool body, comprising a cation exchange membrane and an anion exchange membrane. The emergent plants are planted on the uppermost rock wool layer. This invention introduces an MDC battery system composed of a rock wool body, electrodes, and an ion exchange membrane into the aquatic forest, forming an ecological device that combines desalination and purification, power generation, wind and wave protection, and landscape functions, successfully expanding the application scope of aquatic forests and MDC batteries.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the field of ecological purification technology, specifically to an integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest. Background Technology

[0002] Seawater desalination technology provides a solution to the water resource problem, but this also places higher demands on the desalination process.

[0003] Aquatic forests refer to forest communities primarily composed of aquatic plants, including water-loving or flood-tolerant trees, shrubs, and herbs. The growth of aquatic plants absorbs substances such as nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and heavy metals from the water, and to a certain extent, inhibits algae growth. The structure of their root systems and the substances they secrete provide excellent habitats and food sources for microorganisms and other aquatic organisms. While aquatic forests possess some water purification capabilities, extreme conditions such as high salinity and low temperatures can significantly hinder their growth, thus limiting their application and making them insufficient for meeting seawater desalination needs.

[0004] Microbial desalination batteries (MDCs) are a variant of microbial fuel cells, incorporating desalination capabilities. They can generate electricity simultaneously while treating wastewater, requiring no external power source. Microorganisms degrade organic matter at the anode, releasing electrons and protons. The addition of anion and cation exchange membranes in the MDC reduces the NaCl concentration in the desalination chamber. Electrons generated by the microorganisms at the anode move through an external circuit to the cathode, where a redox reaction (Faraday reaction) occurs on the electrode surface, extracting sodium and chloride ions from the salt solution, thus achieving desalination. Currently, MDC research is primarily focused on laboratory-scale micro-environmental studies and mechanism exploration; no applications in aquatic forests have yet been observed. Summary of the Invention

[0005] To address the limitations of existing aquatic forests in seawater and freshwater treatment, this invention provides an integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest. By incorporating a microbial desalination battery into the aquatic forest structure, the aquatic forest gains excellent water purification and desalination capabilities, effectively improving its adaptability to extreme conditions of high salinity and low temperature, and expanding its application scope.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, the specific technical solution adopted by the present invention is as follows:

[0007] An integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest includes:

[0008] Frame with an opening at the top;

[0009] The rock wool body is placed in the mesh frame and includes several rock wool layers arranged vertically.

[0010] The electrodes include a cathode and an anode erected on both sides of the rock wool body, with the cathode and anode sandwiched between the side of the mesh frame and the rock wool body;

[0011] An ion exchange membrane is vertically embedded in the rock wool body, including a cation exchange membrane near the cathode and an anion exchange membrane near the anode.

[0012] Emergent plants, planted in the uppermost layer of rock wool.

[0013] The integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest proposed in this invention is a microbial desalination battery system composed of a rock wool body, electrodes, and an ion exchange membrane incorporated into the construction of the aquatic forest. Rock wool was chosen as the base, a thermal insulation material made from alkaline slag, a byproduct of blast furnace ironmaking, through high-temperature drawing. This material is produced through waste resource recovery and contains a large amount of iron, silicon, and magnesium. Furthermore, it is hydrophobic and lightweight, allowing it to float on water, making it a suitable base for the aquatic forest. Through material characterization, the inventors discovered that rock wool has a large specific surface area, a porous structure, and numerous adsorption sites, resulting in good adsorption of pollutants in the water. Simultaneously, this structure also facilitates the enrichment of microorganisms and algal biofilms, thereby improving the purification effect of the aquatic forest.

[0014] This invention's microbial desalination battery system utilizes the thermal insulation properties of rock wool to significantly enhance plants' temperature tolerance. Furthermore, it leverages the organic pollutants and microorganisms adsorbed by the rock wool from polluted water to power the battery, thereby achieving water desalination and reducing the application cost of MDC batteries. Additionally, while performing its desalination function, the battery generates a small current (which can be produced without an external power source), stimulating the growth of microorganisms and plants, allowing them to fully exert their desalination and purification effects. Therefore, this invention utilizes the interaction between polluted water, MDC batteries, and aquatic forest vegetation to enhance the adaptability of aquatic forests to low-temperature, high-salinity environments, making it applicable for seawater desalination and organic pollution control.

[0015] Preferably, the roots of the emergent plant extend deep into the rock wool body, and the tops of the electrodes and ion exchange membranes extend beyond the bottom of the roots of the emergent plant, so that the roots of the emergent plant are within the power generation range of the MDC battery, so as to receive microcurrents and promote growth.

[0016] Preferably, the rock wool layer containing the roots of the emergent plant has several vertically penetrating holes. These vertical holes serve two purposes: firstly, they reduce the difficulty of planting emergent plants on the rock wool layer; secondly, they provide gas channels to facilitate oxygen supply to the plant roots and prevent root rot.

[0017] Preferably, the rock wool layer is wrapped with a three-dimensional vegetation net. After a period of use, the rock wool layers will stick together, which is not conducive to water circulation and the function of the MDC battery.

[0018] Preferably, the rock wool layer has at least three layers to provide sufficient wastewater treatment area and access.

[0019] Preferably, the cathode and anode are carbon felt or graphite felt.

[0020] Preferably, the integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest also includes a mesh cover installed at the opening of the mesh frame. The mesh cover exerts downward pressure on the rock wool, which can improve the stability of the device of the present invention.

[0021] The present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0022] 1. This invention introduces MDC batteries into aquatic forests, utilizing microorganisms in polluted water to achieve the desalination and power generation function of MDC batteries, thereby enhancing the purification effect of aquatic forests and their tolerance to high-salt environments; at the same time, the circuit formed by the positive and negative electrodes of the MDC battery can generate microcurrents, microelectric fields and micromagnetic fields, which help to enhance plant growth.

[0023] 2. This invention selects rock wool material as the substrate for planting and water treatment in aquatic forests. It has excellent heat preservation function, which enhances the tolerance of aquatic forests to low-temperature environments and facilitates the attachment of microorganisms and organic matter, thereby improving the power generation and desalination effect of MDC batteries and further enhancing the tolerance of aquatic forests to high-salt environments.

[0024] 3. By setting the rock wool body as a multi-layer structure isolated by a three-dimensional vegetation net, the present invention improves the long-term stability and service life of the device for power generation and desalination; and by setting vertical through holes in the layer where emergent plants are located, the rock wool body is prevented from causing adverse effects on the plant roots.

[0025] 4. This invention uses a net cover to fix emergent plants and rock wool materials in a mesh, which improves the stability of the device and helps the vegetation of the aquatic forest to play a role in wind protection or reducing wind and waves.

[0026] In summary, this invention successfully combines aquatic forests and MDC batteries, giving full play to their synergistic effects to form an ecological device that combines desalination and purification, power generation, wind and wave protection, and landscape functions, thus successfully expanding the application scope of aquatic forests and MDC batteries. Attached Figure Description

[0027] Figure 1 : A schematic diagram of the integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest described in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0028] Figure 2Cross-sectional view of the integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest described in Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0029] In the diagram: 1-mesh frame, 2-mesh cover, 3-rock wool layer, 4-cathode, 5-anode, 6-cation exchange membrane, 7-anion exchange membrane, 8-emergent plants, 9-three-dimensional vegetation net; 31-holes. Detailed Implementation

[0030] The present invention will be further described below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0031] Example 1

[0032] An integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest, such as Figure 1-2 As shown, the system includes a mesh frame 1, a mesh cover 2, a rock wool body, electrodes, an ion exchange membrane, and emergent plants 8. The mesh frame 1 has an opening at the top; the rock wool body is placed within the mesh frame 1 and comprises three vertically arranged rock wool layers 3; the electrodes include cathodes 4 and anodes 5 erected on both sides of the rock wool body, both cathodes 4 and anodes 5 being carbon felt, sandwiched between the sides of the mesh frame 1 and the rock wool body; the ion exchange membrane is vertically embedded within the rock wool body, including a cation exchange membrane 6 near the cathode 4 and an anion exchange membrane 7 near the anode 5; the emergent plants 8 are planted on the uppermost rock wool layer 3; the mesh cover 2 is fitted onto the mesh frame 1 and fastened to it on all four sides, providing downward pressure and stabilization for the roots of the rock wool body and the emergent plants 8.

[0033] More specifically, the rock wool layer 3 is wrapped with a three-dimensional vegetation net 9 for isolation and to prevent the rock wool layer 3 from sticking together; the roots of the emergent plant 8 extend deep into the rock wool body, and the top of the electrode and ion exchange membrane are set beyond the bottom of the roots of the emergent plant 8, so that the roots of the emergent plant 8 can receive more microcurrents to facilitate its growth; the rock wool layer 3 where the roots of the emergent plant 8 are located has several vertically penetrating holes for oxygen circulation so that the plant roots can respire.

[0034] The application process of the integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest is as follows:

[0035] The device of this embodiment is placed on the slope of a polluted water source or in an open water area. Water is absorbed into the rock wool body and a large amount of pollutants and microorganisms in the water are adsorbed into the pores of the rock wool material. Microorganisms consume water organic matter at the anode 5 and release electrons and protons. The protons cause chloride ions in the sewage to move through the anion exchange membrane 7 to the anode 5, forming a microcurrent that promotes the growth of emergent plants 8, thereby improving their absorption level of substances such as N, P and heavy metals in the water. Electrons reach the cathode through the external circuit, and sodium ions move through the cation exchange membrane 6 to the cathode 4. This process completes the desalination and purification of sewage. Due to the heat preservation effect of the rock wool body, even in low-temperature environments, microorganisms can still generate electricity and desalinate normally, improving the adaptability of the aquatic forest to extreme environments. This allows the aquatic forest of this invention to be used for the desalination and purification of eutrophic seawater, as well as the treatment of other water bodies containing salt and / or organic pollutants, successfully expanding the application scope of aquatic forests.

[0036] In summary, the water forest of this invention primarily relies on physical, chemical, and biological processes to enhance water purification. The physical effect mainly involves the adsorption process of the rock wool base. The chemical process is due to the microcurrent generated after the microbial desalination battery is activated, which enhances electron transfer and accelerates the movement of anions and cations in the water towards the electrodes of the desalination battery, thus achieving simultaneous desalination and pollutant removal. The biological effects include the purification by plants, the purification effect of algal and bacterial biofilms enriched in the base, and the degradation of organic matter by microorganisms during the activation and operation of the microbial desalination battery.

[0037] This specific embodiment is merely an explanation of the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. Any changes made by those skilled in the art after reading the specification of the present invention, as long as they are within the scope of the claims of the present invention, will be protected by patent law.

Claims

1. An integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest, characterized in that: include: Frame (1), with an opening at the top; The rock wool body is filled in the mesh frame (1) and includes several rock wool layers (3) arranged vertically. The rock wool layers (3) are wrapped with a three-dimensional vegetation net (9) for isolation and to prevent the rock wool layers (3) from sticking together. The electrodes include a cathode (4) and an anode (5) erected on both sides of the rock wool body, and the cathode (4) and anode (5) are sandwiched between the side of the mesh frame (1) and the rock wool body; An ion exchange membrane is vertically embedded in the rock wool body, including a cation exchange membrane (6) near the cathode (4) and an anion exchange membrane (7) near the anode (5). Emergent plants (8) are planted in the uppermost rock wool layer (3); the roots of the emergent plants (8) penetrate deep into the rock wool body, and the top of the electrodes and ion exchange membranes are set beyond the bottom of the roots of the emergent plants (8); the rock wool layer (3) where the roots of the emergent plants (8) are located has several holes (31) vertically.

2. The integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest according to claim 1, characterized in that: The rock wool layer (3) has at least three layers.

3. The integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest according to claim 1, characterized in that: The cathode (4) and anode (5) are carbon felt or graphite felt.

4. The integrated desalination battery-enhanced aquatic forest according to claim 1, characterized in that: It also includes a mesh cover (2) installed at the opening of the mesh frame (1).

Images