Electron carriers increase electricity production in methane microbial fuel cells that reverse methanogenesis

Development of economical and environment-friendly Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) technology should be associated with waste management. However, current knowledge regarding microbiological bases of electricity production from complex waste substrates is insufficient. In the following study, microbial composition and electricity generation were investigated in MFCs powered with waste volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from anaerobic digestion of primary sludge. Two anode sizes were tested, resulting in organic loading rates (OLRs) of 69.12 and 36.21 mg chemical oxygen demand (COD)/(g MLSS∙d) in MFC1 and MFC2, respectively. Time of MFC operation affected the microbial structure and the use of waste VFAs promoted microbial diversity. High abundance of Deftia sp. and Methanobacterium sp. characterized start-up period in MFCs. During stable operation, higher OLR in MFC1 favored growth of exoelectrogens from Rhodopseudomonas sp. (13.2%) resulting in a higher and more stable electricity production in comparison with MFC2. At a lower OLR in MFC2, the percentage of exoelectrogens in biomass decreased, while the abundance of genera Leucobacter, Frigoribacterium and Phenylobacterium increased. In turn, this efficiently decomposed complex organic substances, favoring high and stable COD removal (over 85%). Independent of the anode size, Clostridium sp. and exoelectrogens belonging to genera Desulfobulbus and Acinetobacter were abundant in MFCs powered with waste VFAs.

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Impact of Increased Surface Area Cathodes Using Nanostructures in Microbial Fuel Cells for Electricity Production

10.13031/2013.42109 ◽

2012 ◽

Author(s):

Alan E Yost ◽

Ann D Christy ◽

Lingying Zhao ◽

Olli H Tuovinen

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Surface Area ◽

Microbial Fuel Cells ◽

Electricity Production

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Electricity production from gelatin wastewater using single-chamber microbial fuel cells

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/404/1/012026 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 404 ◽

pp. 012026

Author(s):

R Irnawati ◽

D Surilayani ◽

R P Aditia ◽

A Maldini ◽

S Jusamatalaisi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Microbial Fuel Cells ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Single Chamber

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Preparation and Analysis of Ni–Co Catalyst Use for Electricity Production and COD Reduction in Microbial Fuel Cells

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal9121042 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (12) ◽

pp. 1042 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Paweł P. Włodarczyk ◽

Barbara Włodarczyk

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cells ◽

Microbial Fuel Cells ◽

New Technologies ◽

Renewable Energy Sources ◽

Oxygen Demand ◽

Electricity Production ◽

Waste Products ◽

Cod Reduction ◽

Reduction Time ◽

Pre Treatment

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices than can contribute to the development of new technologies using renewable energy sources or waste products for energy production. Moreover, MFCs can realize wastewater pre-treatment, e.g., reduction of the chemical oxygen demand (COD). This research covered preparation and analysis of a catalyst and measurements of changes in the concentration of COD in the MFC with a Ni–Co cathode. Analysis of the catalyst included measurements of the electroless potential of Ni–Co electrodes oxidized for 1–10 h, and the influence of anodic charge on the catalytic activity of the Ni–Co alloy (for four alloys: 15, 25, 50, and 75% concentration of Co). For the Ni–Co alloy containing 15% of Co oxidized for 8 h, after the third anodic charge the best catalytic parameters was obtained. During the MFC operation, it was noted that the COD reduction time (to 90% efficiency) was similar to the reduction time during wastewater aeration. However, the characteristic of the aeration curve was preferred to the curve obtained during the MFC operation. The electricity measurements during the MFC operation showed that power equal to 7.19 mW was obtained (at a current density of 0.47 mA·cm−2).

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