Complete removal of heavy metals with simultaneous efficient treatment of etching terminal wastewater using scaled-up microbial electrolysis cells

• Etching terminal wastewater is efficiently treated in MECs of different scales. performance scales almost with the reactor volume. Electrode potentials scaled-up (40 L) are resilient to strength. Switch from low high strengths alters microbial community composition. The treatment actual and etching (ETW) plating electronic industry meeting national discharge standards demonstrated laboratory scale (1 electrolysis cells (MECs). Both cylindrical single-chamber achieved complete removal heavy metals efficient organics using either strength ETW at an hydraulic retention time (HRT) 5 d, or HRTs 7 d 9 L). rate increased by 36-fold scaled volume ratio 40. were Bacterial communities on both anodes cathodes 1 L 40 reactors experienced a selective shock significant change after switching wastewater, although was effectively maintained. This study demonstrates multiple simultaneous China provides plausible approach for value-added products (e.g., metals) practical wastewater.