Improvement of Microbial Fuel Cell Performance by Selection of Anodic Materials and Enrichment of Inoculum

This work aimed at evaluating the effect of four anodic materials and the use of enriched inocula on the microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance. The anodic materials were granular activated carbon (GAC), graphite rod (GR), triangles of graphite (GT) and graphite flakes (GF). When loaded with a sulfate-reducing inoculum (SR-In) the internal resistance (Rint) obtained were 273, 410 and 795 Ω for GF, GT, GR, respectively and higher than 10 000 Ω for GAC, whereas the maximum volumetric power (PV,max) were 1326, 2108 and 3052 mW m-3 for GR, GT and GF, respectively. We observed a decrease of Rint and an increase of PV,max with the increase of the log of A´s of the graphite anodic materials that was consistent with a mathematical model previously reported by our Group. The use of the Fe (III)-reducing inoculum significantly enhanced the MFC performance; PV,max was up to 5000 mW m-3, 40% higher than the power obtained with SR-In whereas the Rint was 140 ohms. Highest PVs of our MFC were close to values of electricity power derived from the anaerobic digestion of municipal wastewaters. In this regard, results of this work point out to a promising approach to further tapping bioelectricity from organic wastes that previously have yielded biohydrogen.

Download Full-text

Study of the Effect of Activated Carbon Cathode Configuration on the Performance of a Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell

Catalysts ◽

10.3390/catal10060619 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (6) ◽

pp. 619

Author(s):

M. L. Jiménez González ◽

Carlos Hernández Benítez ◽

Zabdiel Abisai Juarez ◽

Evelyn Zamudio Pérez ◽

Víctor Ángel Ramírez Coutiño ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Microbial Fuel Cell ◽

Removal Efficiency ◽

Internal Resistance ◽

Cod Removal ◽

The Other ◽

Cod Removal Efficiency ◽

Water Recirculation ◽

Better Than

In this paper, the effect of cathode configuration on the performance of a membrane-less microbial fuel cell (MFC) was evaluated using three different arrangements: an activated carbon bed exposed to air (MFCE), a wetland immersed in an activated carbon bed (MFCW) and a cathode connected to an aeration tower featuring a water recirculation device (MFCT). To evaluate the MFC performance, the efficiency of the organic matter removal, the generated voltage, the power density and the internal resistance of the systems were properly assessed. The experimental results showed that while the COD removal efficiency was in all cases over 60% (after 40 days), the MFCT arrangement showed the best performance since the average removal value was 82%, compared to close to 70% for MFCE and MFCW. Statistical analysis of the COD removal efficiency confirmed that the performance of MCFT is substantially better than that of MFCE and MFCW. In regard to the other parameters surveyed, no significant influence of the different cathode arrangements explored could be found.

Download Full-text

Regulation of biocathode microbial fuel cell performance with respect to azo dye degradation and electricity generation via the selection of anodic inoculum

International Journal of Hydrogen Energy ◽

10.1016/j.ijhydene.2016.01.114 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 41 (9) ◽

pp. 5141-5150 ◽

Cited By ~ 15

Author(s):

Jian Sun ◽

Bihai Cai ◽

Yaping Zhang ◽

Yenping Peng ◽

Kenlin Chang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Microbial Fuel Cell ◽

Azo Dye ◽

Electricity Generation ◽

Dye Degradation ◽

Cell Performance ◽

Fuel Cell Performance ◽

Selection Of

Download Full-text

Effects of evolving quality of landfill leachate on microbial fuel cell performance

Waste Management & Research ◽

10.1177/0734242x17739969 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 36 (1) ◽

pp. 59-67 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

Simeng Li ◽

Gang Chen

Keyword(s):

Power Generation ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Microbial Fuel Cell ◽

Power Density ◽

Landfill Leachate ◽

Internal Resistance ◽

Energy Yield ◽

Leachate Treatment ◽

Fuel Cell Performance ◽

Leachate Quality

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a novel technology for landfill leachate treatment with simultaneous electric power generation. In recent years, more and more modern landfills are operating as bioreactors to shorten the time required for landfill stabilization and improve the leachate quality. For landfills to operate as biofilters, leachate is recirculated back to the landfill, during which time the organics of the leachate can be decomposed. Continuous recirculation typically results in evolving leachate quality, which chronologically corresponds to evolution stages such as hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, methanogenesis, and maturation. In this research, variable power generation (160 to 230 mW m˗2) by MFC was observed when leachate of various evolutionary stages was used as the feed. The power density followed a Monod-type kinetic model with the chemical oxygen demand (COD) equivalent of the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) ( p < 0.001). The coulombic efficiency decreased from 20% to 14% as the leachate evolved towards maturation. The maximum power density linearly decreased with the increase of internal resistance, resulting from the change of the conductivity of the solution. The decreased conductivity boosted the internal resistance and consequently limited the power generation. COD removal as high as 90% could be achieved with leachate extracted from appropriate evolutionary stages, with a maximum energy yield of 0.9 kWh m˗3 of leachate. This study demonstrated the importance of the evolving leachate quality in different evolutionary stages for the performance of leachate-fed MFCs. The leachate extracted from acidogenesis and acetogenesis were optimal for both COD reduction and energy production in MFCs.

Download Full-text

Comparison of Various Techniques to Characterize a Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell Loaded with Sulfate Reducing Biocatalysts

Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems ◽

10.14447/jnmes.v15i3.65 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 15 (3) ◽

pp. 195-201 ◽

Cited By ~ 6

Author(s):

K. Sathish Kumar ◽

Omar Solorza-Feria ◽

Rafael Hernández-Vera ◽

Gerardo Vazquez-Huerta ◽

Héctor M. Poggi-Varaldo

Keyword(s):

Fuel Cell ◽

Microbial Fuel Cell ◽

Current Density ◽

Internal Resistance ◽

Extracellular Electron Transfer ◽

Whole Cell ◽

Single Chamber ◽

Sulfate Reducing ◽

Cell Configuration ◽

Anodic Chamber

A single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) with a carbon supported Pt-cathode for the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), and loaded with a sulfate reducing bacterial consortium as biocatalyst in the anodic chamber was characterized by polarization by variable resistance (VR) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) methods. From VR a whole cell configuration maximum volumetric power of 92.5 mW m-3 was attained at a current density of 459 A m-3 and voltage of 0.202 V. The LSV method of whole cell configuration gave a higher maximum power density of 197.5 mW m-3 at current density of 696 mA m-3 at the potential of 0.284V; this disagreement was ascribed to possible reduction of power and potential overshoot with the LSV. There was a fair agreement between internal resistance values of whole cell configuration determined by VR and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS): 2225 and 2307 Ω , respectively. Yet, internal resistance measured by LSV was 30% lower for the whole cell configuration. Both LSV and EIS show the advantage of reduced potential overshoot; yet, EIS provides more detailed information on equivalent circuit of the cell and resistance contributions of the electrodes, electrolyte and membrane. Further cyclic voltammetry tests gave midpoint potential of -0.215 V vs saturated calomel electrode, a value close to those reported for bacterial cytochromes involved in extracellular electron transfer processes. It is concluded that in spite of particular advantages of some techniques over others, the combination of electrochemical methods can be very valuable for shedding light and internal checking of the main characteristics of a microbial fuel cell.

Download Full-text

Influence of Chemical and Physical Properties of Activated Carbon Powders on Oxygen Reduction and Microbial Fuel Cell Performance

Environmental Science & Technology ◽

10.1021/es401722j ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 47 (12) ◽

pp. 6704-6710 ◽

Cited By ~ 125

Author(s):

Valerie J. Watson ◽

Cesar Nieto Delgado ◽

Bruce E. Logan

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Physical Properties ◽

Oxygen Reduction ◽

Microbial Fuel Cell ◽

Cell Performance ◽

Fuel Cell Performance

Download Full-text

Study on Treatment of Acrylic Fiber Wastewater with Microbial Fuel Cell

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.610-613.1522 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 610-613 ◽

pp. 1522-1526

Author(s):

Ya Li Zhan ◽

Xuan Guo ◽

Bei Bei Zheng ◽

Jing Duan ◽

Shao Hui Guo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Activated Carbon ◽

Fuel Cell ◽

Microbial Fuel Cell ◽

Aromatic Compounds ◽

Wastewater Treatment Plants ◽

Internal Resistance ◽

Anaerobic Sludge ◽

Anode Chamber ◽

Acrylic Fiber ◽

Long Time

A two-chambered MFC packed with activated carbon and used acrylic fiber wastewater as carbon source was constructed to study the electrical and anolyte change characteristics of the cell, the influence of activated carbon packing materials on electricity generation performance was analysed. The results indicated that microbial fuel cell could be upstart successfully when anaerobic sludge taken from wastewater treatment plants of acrylic fiber companies was used as inoculation; the maximum power density output of MFC was 211W/m3, and the internal resistance was 1311; N-contained aromatic compounds in anolyte was absorbed by activated carbon which made the cell could stably operated for a long time without renewing anolyte; anaerobic metabolism process was occurred in anode chamber, and during which N-contained aromatic compounds was degraded to amide, carboxylic acid, ammonia, etc.

Download Full-text