Generating Electricity from Water Evaporation Through Microbial Biofilms

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiaomeng Liu ◽  
Toshiyuki Ueki ◽  
Hongyan Gao ◽  
Trevor L Woodard ◽  
Kely P Nevin ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Cell Viability ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Functional Materials ◽  
Toxic Waste ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Water Evaporation ◽  
Microbial Biofilms ◽  
Flexible Material ◽  
Current Production

Sustainable strategies for energy production are required to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and to power electronics without generating toxic waste.1-7 Generating electricity from water evaporation through engineered materials is a promising approach,8,9 but power outputs have been low and the materials employed were not sustainably produced. Microorganisms can be mass produced with renewable feedstocks. Here, we demonstrate that it is possible to engineer microbial biofilms as a cohesive, flexible material for long-term continuous electricity production from evaporating water. The biofilm sheets were the functional component in devices that continuously produced power densities (~1 μW/cm2) higher than that achieved with non-biological materials. Current production scaled directly with biofilm-sheet size and skin-patch devices harvested sufficient electricity from the moisture on skin to continuously power wearable devices. The results demonstrate that appropriately engineered biofilms can perform as robust functional materials without the need for further processing or maintaining cell viability. Biofilm-based hydroelectric current production was comparable to that achieved with similar sized biofilms catalyzing current production in microbial fuel cells,10,11 without the need for an organic feedstock or maintaining cell viability. The ubiquity of biofilms in nature suggests the possibility of additional sources of biomaterial for evaporation-based electricity generation and the possibility of harvesting electricity from diverse aqueous environments.

scholarly journals Anode Modification as an Alternative Approach to Improve Electricity Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 6596
Author(s):  
Dawid Nosek ◽  
Piotr Jachimowicz ◽  
Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Active Sites ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Anode Surface ◽  
Attractive Alternative ◽  
Advantages And Disadvantages ◽  
Metallic Nanomaterials ◽  
Anode Modification

Sustainable production of electricity from renewable sources by microorganisms is considered an attractive alternative to energy production from fossil fuels. In recent years, research on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) technology for electricity production has increased. However, there are problems with up-scaling MFCs due to the fairly low power output and high operational costs. One of the approaches to improving energy generation in MFCs is by modifying the existing anode materials to provide more electrochemically active sites and improve the adhesion of microorganisms. The aim of this review is to present the effect of anode modification with carbon compounds, metallic nanomaterials, and polymers and the effect that these modifications have on the structure of the microbiological community inhabiting the anode surface. This review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of individual materials as well as possibilities for using them for environmentally friendly production of electricity in MFCs.

scholarly journals Electricity Production by Geobacter sulfurreducens Attached to Electrodes

2003 ◽  
Vol 69 (3) ◽  
pp. 1548-1555 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel R. Bond ◽  
Derek R. Lovley
Keyword(s):  
Electron Transfer ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Electron Donor ◽  
Electron Acceptor ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrical Current ◽  
Geobacter Sulfurreducens ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Organic Substrates ◽  
Current Production

ABSTRACT Previous studies have suggested that members of the Geobacteraceae can use electrodes as electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration. In order to better understand this electron transfer process for energy production, Geobacter sulfurreducens was inoculated into chambers in which a graphite electrode served as the sole electron acceptor and acetate or hydrogen was the electron donor. The electron-accepting electrodes were maintained at oxidizing potentials by connecting them to similar electrodes in oxygenated medium (fuel cells) or to potentiostats that poised electrodes at +0.2 V versus an Ag/AgCl reference electrode (poised potential). When a small inoculum of G. sulfurreducens was introduced into electrode-containing chambers, electrical current production was dependent upon oxidation of acetate to carbon dioxide and increased exponentially, indicating for the first time that electrode reduction supported the growth of this organism. When the medium was replaced with an anaerobic buffer lacking nutrients required for growth, acetate-dependent electrical current production was unaffected and cells attached to these electrodes continued to generate electrical current for weeks. This represents the first report of microbial electricity production solely by cells attached to an electrode. Electrode-attached cells completely oxidized acetate to levels below detection (<10 μM), and hydrogen was metabolized to a threshold of 3 Pa. The rates of electron transfer to electrodes (0.21 to 1.2 μmol of electrons/mg of protein/min) were similar to those observed for respiration with Fe(III) citrate as the electron acceptor (Eo′ =+0.37 V). The production of current in microbial fuel cell (65 mA/m2 of electrode surface) or poised-potential (163 to 1,143 mA/m2) mode was greater than what has been reported for other microbial systems, even those that employed higher cell densities and electron-shuttling compounds. Since acetate was completely oxidized, the efficiency of conversion of organic electron donor to electricity was significantly higher than in previously described microbial fuel cells. These results suggest that the effectiveness of microbial fuel cells can be increased with organisms such as G. sulfurreducens that can attach to electrodes and remain viable for long periods of time while completely oxidizing organic substrates with quantitative transfer of electrons to an electrode.

Microbial fuel cells: Devices for real wastewater treatment, rather than electricity production

2021 ◽  
Vol 775 ◽  
pp. 145904
Author(s):  
Jaecheul Yu ◽  
Younghyun Park ◽  
Evy Widyaningsih ◽  
Sunah Kim ◽  
Younggy Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Real Wastewater

scholarly journals Laminar Burning Velocity of Biogas-Containing Mixtures. A Literature Review

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 996
Author(s):  
Venera Giurcan ◽  
Codina Movileanu ◽  
Adina Magdalena Musuc ◽  
Maria Mitu
Keyword(s):  
Gas Turbines ◽  
Internal Combustion Engines ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Combustion Engine ◽  
Burning Velocity ◽  
Internal Combustion ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Engine Fuel ◽  
Laminar Burning Velocity ◽  
Waste Products

Currently, the use of fossil fuels is very high and existing nature reserves are rapidly depleted. Therefore, researchers are turning their attention to find renewable fuels that have a low impact on the environment, to replace these fossil fuels. Biogas is a low-cost alternative, sustainable, renewable fuel existing worldwide. It can be produced by decomposition of vegetation or waste products of human and animal biological activity. This process is performed by microorganisms (such as methanogens and sulfate-reducing bacteria) by anaerobic digestion. Biogas can serve as a basis for heat and electricity production used for domestic heating and cooking. It can be also used to feed internal combustion engines, gas turbines, fuel cells, or cogeneration systems. In this paper, a comprehensive literature study regarding the laminar burning velocity of biogas-containing mixtures is presented. This study aims to characterize the use of biogas as IC (internal combustion) engine fuel, and to develop efficient safety recommendations and to predict and reduce the risk of fires and accidental explosions caused by biogas.

Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 114-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Huggins ◽  
Heming Wang ◽  
Joshua Kearns ◽  
Peter Jenkins ◽  
Zhiyong Jason Ren
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrode Material ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Production

Electricity production and its effects on carbon dioxide emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: إنتاج الكهرباء وآثاره في انبعاثات ثاني أكسيد الكربون في المملكة العربية السعودية

2021 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 134-108
Author(s):  
Zakiah Radhi Alhajji, Mohamed Elsayed Hafez Ali Zakiah Radhi Alhajji, Mohamed Elsayed Hafez Ali
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Electric Energy ◽  
Total Carbon ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Energy Productivity ◽  
Gulf Region ◽  
Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia

Because of increased demand for electrical energy in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, which has resulted in an increase in carbon dioxide emissions, the electricity system in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is the largest in the Gulf region and the Arab world, with approximately 61.7 gigatons (GW) of peak demand and 89.2 gigatons (GW) of available capacity in 2018 of electricity power. It has grown rapidly over more than 20 years and has almost doubled in size since 2000. Where we observe that the total carbon dioxide emissions in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia from 1990 to 2020; where shows rapid growth in emissions of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, as it was found that CO2 emissions in 1990 amounted to 151 million metric tons compared to 2011 when it reached about 435 million metric tons, and the increase continued until 2020 when it reached about 530 million metric tons. The comprehensive study relied on time series analysis to carefully analyze the electric energy productivity rate from fossil fuels and the significant amount of carbon dioxide emissions typically resulting from promptly burning fossil fuels to naturally produce electric energy. Therefore, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, through Vision 2030 and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, looks to reduce the rate of carbon dioxide emissions in the field of electric power generation by diversifying the fuels used or replacing them with clean and renewable energy such as solar and wind energy.

scholarly journals Electricity production and sludge reduction by integrating microbial fuel cells in anoxic-oxic process

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 346-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benyi Xiao ◽  
Meng Luo ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Zuoxing Li ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Sludge Reduction

Variations of electron flux and microbial community in air-cathode microbial fuel cells fed with different substrates

2012 ◽  
Vol 66 (4) ◽  
pp. 748-753 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jaecheul Yu ◽  
Younghyun Park ◽  
Haein Cho ◽  
Jieun Chun ◽  
Jiyun Seon ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Communities ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Generation ◽  
Electron Flow ◽  
Batch Mode ◽  
Electrochemically Active ◽  
Oxidation Of Organic Compounds ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Electron Sink

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can convert chemical energy to electricity using microbes as catalysts and a variety of organic wastewaters as substrates. However, electron loss occurs when fermentable substrates are used because fermentation bacteria and methanogens are involved in electron flow from the substrates to electricity. In this study, MFCs using glucose (G-MFC), propionate (P-MFC), butyrate (B-MFC), acetate (A-MFC), and a mix (M-MFC, glucose:propionate:butyrate:acetate = 1:1:1:1) were operated in batch mode. The metabolites and microbial communities were analyzed. The current was the largest electron sink in M-, G-, B-, and A-MFCs; the initial chemical oxygen demands (CODini) involved in current production were 60.1% for M-MFC, 52.7% for G-MFC, 56.1% for B-MFC, and 68.3% for A-MFC. Most of the glucose was converted to propionate (40.6% of CODini) and acetate (21.4% of CODini) through lactate (80.3% of CODini) and butyrate (6.1% of CODini). However, an unknown source (62.0% of CODini) and the current (34.5% of CODini) were the largest and second-largest electron sinks in P-MFC. Methane gas was only detected at levels of more than 10% in G- and M-MFCs, meaning that electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) could out-compete acetoclastic methanogens. The microbial communities were different for fermentable and non-fermentable substrate-fed MFCs. Probably, bacteria related to Lactococcus spp. found in G-MFCs with fermentable substrates would be involved in both fermentation and electricity generation. Acinetobacter-like species, and Rhodobacter-like species detected in all the MFCs would be involved in oxidation of organic compounds and electricity generation.

scholarly journals Rumen Inoculum Enhances Cathode Performance in Single-Chamber Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells

Materials ◽  
2022 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 379
Author(s):  
Ignacio T. Vargas ◽  
Natalia Tapia ◽  
John M. Regan
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Rumen Fluid ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Air Cathode ◽  
Single Chamber ◽  
Higher Power ◽  
Mixed Microbial Community ◽  
Current Production ◽  
Soluble Chemical Oxygen Demand

During the last decade, bioprospecting for electrochemically active bacteria has included the search for new sources of inoculum for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, concerning power and current production, a Geobacter-dominated mixed microbial community derived from a wastewater inoculum remains the standard. On the other hand, cathode performance is still one of the main limitations for MFCs, and the enrichment of a beneficial cathodic biofilm emerges as an alternative to increase its performance. Glucose-fed air-cathode reactors inoculated with a rumen-fluid enrichment and wastewater showed higher power densities and soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) removal (Pmax = 824.5 mWm−2; ΔsCOD = 96.1%) than reactors inoculated only with wastewater (Pmax = 634.1 mWm−2; ΔsCOD = 91.7%). Identical anode but different cathode potentials suggest that differences in performance were due to the cathode. Pyrosequencing analysis showed no significant differences between the anodic community structures derived from both inocula but increased relative abundances of Azoarcus and Victivallis species in the cathodic rumen enrichment. Results suggest that this rarely used inoculum for single-chamber MFCs contributed to cathodic biofilm improvements with no anodic biofilm effects.

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