scholarly journals Wastewater Treatment and Electricity Production in a Microbial Fuel Cell with Cu–B Alloy as the Cathode Catalyst

Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł P. Włodarczyk ◽  
Barbara Włodarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Cathode Catalyst ◽  
Similar Reduction ◽  
Fuel Cell Operation

The possibility of wastewater treatment and electricity production using a microbial fuel cell with Cu–B alloy as the cathode catalyst is presented in this paper. Our research covered the catalyst preparation; measurements of the electroless potential of electrodes with the Cu–B catalyst, measurements of the influence of anodic charge on the catalytic activity of the Cu–B alloy, electricity production in a microbial fuel cell (with a Cu–B cathode), and a comparison of changes in the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+, and NO3– in three reactors: one excluding aeration, one with aeration, and during microbial fuel cell operation (with a Cu–B cathode). During the experiments, electricity production equal to 0.21–0.35 mA·cm−2 was obtained. The use of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) with Cu–B offers a similar reduction time for COD to that resulting from the application of aeration. The measured reduction of NH4+ was unchanged when compared with cases employing MFCs, and it was found that effectiveness of about 90% can be achieved for NO3– reduction. From the results of this study, we conclude that Cu–B can be employed to play the role of a cathode catalyst in applications of microbial fuel cells employed for wastewater treatment and the production of electricity.

scholarly journals Microbial Fuel Cell with Ni–Co Cathode Powered with Yeast Wastewater

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3194 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł Włodarczyk ◽  
Barbara Włodarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Sewage Treatment ◽  
Sewage Treatment Plant ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
High Concentration ◽  
Yeast Wastewater

Wastewater originating from the yeast industry is characterized by high concentration of pollutants that need to be reduced before the sludge can be applied, for instance, for fertilization of croplands. As a result of the special requirements associated with the characteristics of this production, huge amounts of wastewater are generated. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) forms a device that can apply wastewater as a fuel. MFC is capable of performing two functions at the same time: wastewater treatment and electricity production. The function of MFC is the production of electricity during bacterial digestion (wastewater treatment). This paper analyzes the possibility of applying yeast wastewater to play the function of a MFC (with Ni–Co cathode). The study was conducted on industrial wastewater from a sewage treatment plant in a factory that processes yeast sewage. The Ni–Co alloy was prepared by application of electrochemical method on a mesh electrode. The results demonstrated that the use of MFC coupled with a Ni–Co cathode led to a reduction in chemical oxygen demand (COD) by 90% during a period that was similar to the time taken for reduction in COD in a reactor with aeration. The power obtained in the MFC was 6.1 mW, whereas the volume of energy obtained during the operation of the cell (20 days) was 1.27 Wh. Although these values are small, the study found that this process can offer an additional level of wastewater treatment as a huge amount of sewage is generated in the process. This would provide an initial reduction in COD (and save the energy needed to aerate wastewater) as well as offer the means to generate electricity.

scholarly journals Effect of Anolyte pH on the Performance of a Dual-Chambered Microbial Fuel Cell Operated with Different Biomass Feed

2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Md. Abdul Halim ◽  
Md. Owaleur Rahman ◽  
Mohammad Ibrahim ◽  
Rituparna Kundu ◽  
Biplob Kumar Biswas
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
River Water ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Coulombic Efficiency ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Bioelectricity Generation ◽  
Alternative Energy Resources

Finding sustainable alternative energy resources and treating wastewater are the two most important issues that need to be solved. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has demonstrated a tremendous potential in bioelectricity generation with wastewater treatment. Since wastewater can be used as a source of electrolyte for the MFC, the salient point of this study was to investigate the effect of pH on bioelectricity production using various biomass feed (wastewater and river water) as the anolyte in a dual-chambered MFC. Maximum extents of power density (1459.02 mW·m−2), current density (1288.9 mA·m−2), and voltage (1132 mV) were obtained at pH 8 by using Bhairab river water as a feedstock in the MFC. A substantial extent of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal (94%) as well as coulombic efficiency (41.7%) was also achieved in the same chamber at pH 8. The overall performance of the MFC, in terms of bioelectricity generation, COD removal, and coulombic efficiency, indicates a plausible utilization of the MFC for wastewater treatment as well as bioelectricity production.

scholarly journals The Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell (ML-MFC) with Ni-Co and Cu-B Cathode Powered by the Process Wastewater from Yeast Production

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3976
Author(s):  
Barbara Włodarczyk ◽  
Paweł P. Włodarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Complete Removal ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Carbon Electrode ◽  
Yeast Production ◽  
Process Wastewater ◽  
Measurement Period

Research related to measurements of electricity production was combined with parallel wastewater parameter reduction in a membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) fed with industry process wastewater (from a yeast factory). Electrodes with Ni–Co and Cu–B catalysts were used as cathodes. A carbon electrode (carbon cloth) was used as a reference due to its widespread use. It was demonstrated that all analyzed electrodes could be employed as cathodes in ML-MFC fed with process wastewater from yeast production. Electricity measurements during ML-MFC operations indicated that power (6.19 mW) and current density (0.38 mA·cm−2) were the highest for Ni–Co electrodes. In addition, during the exploitation of ML-MFC, it was recorded that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal per time for all types of electrodes was similar to the duration of COD decrease in the conditions for wastewater aeration. However, the COD reduction curve for aeration took the most favorable course. The concentration of NH4+ in ML-MFC remained virtually constant throughout the measurement period, whereas NO3− levels indicated almost complete removal (with a minimum increase in the last days of cell exploitation).

scholarly journals The effects of biofilm and selective mixed culture on the electricity outputs and wastewater quality of tempe liquid waste based microbial fuel cell

REAKTOR ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 84
Author(s):  
Tania Surya Utami ◽  
Rita Arbianti ◽  
M Mariana ◽  
Nathania Dwi Karina ◽  
Vifki Leondo
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Mixed Culture ◽  
Biofilm Formation ◽  
Formation Time ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Gram Negative Bacteria ◽  
Treatment Unit ◽  
Gram Negative

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology is highly prospective to be developed because it could be utilized as the alternative electricity sources and simultaneously as the wastewater treatment unit using microorganism as catalyst. Industrial Tempe wastewater has the potential to be used as MFC substrate since it still contains high nutrition for microbe and could pollute the environment if it disposed before being processed first. This study focused on investigating the effect of selective mixed culture addition and biofilm formation on the electricity production and the wastewater treatment aspects with tubular single chamber membranless reactor and industrial Tempe wastewater substrate. The result showed that, with the addition of selective mixed culture, the optimum electricity production obtained with addition of 1 ml gram-negative bacteria with increase in electricity production up to 92.14% and average voltage of 17.91 mV, while the optimum decreased levels of COD and BOD obtained with addition of 5 ml gram-negative bacteria which are 29.32% and 51.32%. On the biofilm formation experiment, optimum electricity production obtained from biofilm formation time for 14 days with increase in electricity production up to 10-folds and average voltage of 30.52 mV, while the optimum decreased levels of COD and BOD obtained from biofilm formation time for 7 days which are 18.2% and 35.9%.Keywords : biofilm, Microbial Fuel Cell, selective mixed culture, Tempe wastewater, tubular reactor

scholarly journals Energy capture and nutrients removal enhancement through a stacked constructed wetland incorporated with microbial fuel cell

2017 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 28-34 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Xu ◽  
Yaqian Zhao ◽  
Tongyue Wang ◽  
Ranbin Liu ◽  
Fei Gao
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Removal Efficiency ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Open Circuit ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Electrical Performance ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Performance Reduction ◽  
Tiered System

To improve the sustainability of constructed wetlands (CWs), a novel tiered wetland system integrated with a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was developed in this study. Compared to the single stage CW, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was improved from 83.2% to 88.7%. More significantly, this tiered system significantly enhanced total nitrogen removal efficiency (an increase from 53.1% to 75.4%). In terms of MFC integration, a gradually decreased performance in electricity production was observed during its 3 months of operation (the voltage dropped from nearly 600 mV to less than 300 mV), which resulted in a reduction of power density from around 2 W/m3 to less than 0.5 W/m3. The deterioration in performance of the air-cathode is the main reason behind this, since the electrode potential of the cathode under open circuit reduced from 348.5 mV to 49.5 mV while the anode potential kept constant at around −400 mV. However, in spite of its electrical performance reduction, it was proved that MFC integration enhanced COD removal and the nitrification process. Further work is needed to improve the stability and feasibility of this new system.

Factors affecting the performance of a single-chamber microbial fuel cell-type biological oxygen demand sensor

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1914-1919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gai-Xiu Yang ◽  
Yong-Ming Sun ◽  
Xiao-Ying Kong ◽  
Feng Zhen ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Response Signal ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Single Chamber ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Stable Voltage

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that exploit microorganisms as biocatalysts to degrade organic matter or sludge present in wastewater (WW), and thereby generate electricity. We developed a simple, low-cost single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC)-type biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor using carbon felt (anode) and activated sludge, and demonstrated its feasibility in the construction of a real-time BOD measurement system. Further, the effects of anodic pH and organic concentration on SCMFC performance were examined, and the correlation between BOD concentration and its response time was analyzed. Our results demonstrated that the SCMFC exhibited a stable voltage after 132 min following the addition of synthetic WW (BOD concentration: 200 mg/L). Notably, the response signal increased with an increase in BOD concentration (range: 5–200 mg/L) and was found to be directly proportional to the substrate concentration. However, at higher BOD concentrations (>120 mg/L) the response signal remained unaltered. Furthermore, we optimized the SCMFC using synthetic WW, and tested it with real WW. Upon feeding real WW, the BOD values exhibited a standard deviation from 2.08 to 8.3% when compared to the standard BOD5 method, thus demonstrating the practical applicability of the developed system to real treatment effluents.

scholarly journals Effect of the ammonia concentration on the performance of wetland microbial fuel cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 269 ◽  
pp. 01002
Author(s):  
Li Wang ◽  
Jiafeng Fu ◽  
Wenlei Wang ◽  
Yutong Song ◽  
Yan Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Fixed Condition

This work explores the effect of the ammonia concentration on the wetland synthesis of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and on the production and the efficiency of sewage purification. Four ammonia concentrations from 1 to 30 mg/L have been selected. Under the fixed condition of a chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of 200 mg/L, a constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) could be built. The results show that by selecting the optimum ammonia concentration the production of the CW-MFC could be promoted; a higher ammonia concentration (>20 mg/L) is found to inhibit the production activity of CW-MFC. In the optimum conditions, Cathode and anode thickness is 10 cm, the ammonia concentration is 10 mg/L, the COD concentration of 200 mg/L, the maximum power density of the battery is 13.6 W/m3, the corresponding current density is 148.6 A/m3 and the battery internal resistance is 270 Ω. At the ammonia nitrogen concentration of 10 mg/L, the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and COD were up to 89.7% and 98.47% respectively. As the ammonia nitrogen concentration increased to 30 mg/L, the ammonia nitrogen and COD removal rates decreased to 74.6% and 90.69% respectively. That is, when the ammonia nitrogen concentration is 10 mg/L, CW-MFC can exhibit the best performance.

Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal using a litre-scale upflow microbial fuel cell

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-ling Zhao ◽  
Tian-shun Song
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Chicken Manure ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

A 10 L upflow microbial fuel cell (UMFC) was constructed for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal. During the 6-month operation, the UMFC constantly removed carbon and nitrogen, and then generated electricity with synthetic wastewater as substrate. At 5.0 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen, 100 Ω external resistance, and pH 6.5, the maximum power density (Pmax) and nitrification rate for the UMFC was 19.5 mW m−2 and 17.9 mg·(L d)−1, respectively. In addition, Pmax in the UMFC with chicken manure wastewater as substrate was 16 mW m−2, and a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 94.1% in the UMFC was achieved at 50 mM phosphate-buffered saline. Almost all ammonia in the cathode effluent was effectively degraded after biological denitrification in the UMFC cathode. The results can help to further develop pilot-scale microbial fuel cells for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal.

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