scholarly journals Improvement of Wastewater Treatment Performance and Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells by Enhancing Hydrolysis and Acidogenesis, and by Reducing Internal Losses

Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2309 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miguel López Zavala ◽  
Pamela Torres Delenne ◽  
Omar González Peña
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Municipal Wastewater ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Electric Circuit ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Anode Chamber ◽  
Practical Applications ◽  
Treatment Performance

In this study, biodegradation performance and power generation in MFCs were improved. Domestic wastewater was biodegraded in a dual-chamber MFC system equipped with a DupontTM Nafion® 117 proton exchange membrane, graphite electrodes (8.0 cm × 2.5 cm × 0.2 cm) in both chambers and an external electric circuit with a 100 Ω resistor. Experiments were conducted using an anaerobic inoculum that was prepared onsite by acclimating mixed liquor from municipal wastewater. Aqueous hydrochloric acid (0.1 M HCl, pH 1.82) was used as the electrolyte in the cathode chamber. Free-oxygen conditions were promoted in both chambers by means of a vacuum (77.3 kPa). Low pH (< 5) and mixing conditions were maintained in the anode chamber and all the tests were carried out at 25 ± 1 °C. These conditions enhanced the hydrolysis and acidogenesis, inhibited the methanogenesis and reduced the internal losses. All of them together contributed to improve the treatment performance and power generation of the MFCs. Results of batch tests show COD reductions of up to 95%, voltages peaks of 0.954 V, maximum power densities on the order of 2.1 W·m−2 and 36.9 W·m−3, and energy generation peaks of 99.4 J·mg−1 COD removed. These values are greater than those reported in the MFCs’ literature for municipal wastewater (26 mW·m−2–146 mW·m−2), industrial wastewater (419 mW·m−2) and culture medium solutions (1.17 W·m−2), and similar to those of glucose (3.6 W·m−2). Thus, these results can contribute to further enhancing the energy generated in MFCs and moving forward to make the MFCs more ready for practical applications of bioenergy production.

Effects of applied voltages and dissolved oxygen on sustained power generation by microbial fuel cells

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (5) ◽  
pp. 1311-1317 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. E. Oh ◽  
J. R. Kim ◽  
J.-H. Joo ◽  
B. E. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Dissolved Oxygen ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Pure Oxygen ◽  
Lag Phase ◽  
Anode Chamber ◽  
In Series ◽  
Oxygen Intrusion

Oxygen intrusion into the anode chamber through proton exchange membrane can result in positive redox conditions in fed-batch, two chamber MFCs at the end of a cycle when the substrate is depleted. A slight increase in dissolved oxygen to 0.3 mg/L during MFC operation was not found to adversely affect power generation over subsequent cycles if sufficient substrate (acetate) was provided. Purging the anode chamber with air or pure oxygen for up to 10 days and 10 hrs also did not affect power generation, as power rapidly returned to previous levels when the chamber was sparged with nitrogen gas. When MFCs are connected in series, voltage reversal can occur resulting in a positive voltage applied to the anode biofilm. To investigate if this adversely affected the bacteria, voltages of 1, 2, 3, 4, and 9 V, were applied for 1 hr to the MFC before reconnecting it back to a fixed external load (1,000 Ω). A voltage of &lt;2 V did not affect power generation. However, applying 3 V resulted in a 15 h lag phase before recovery, and 9 V produced a 60 h lag phase suggesting substantial damage to the bacteria that required re-growth of bacteria in the biofilm. These results indicate that charge reversal will be a more serious problem than oxygen intrusion into the anode chamber for sustained performance of MFCs.

scholarly journals Comparative Study on the Effects of Three Membrane Modification Methods on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liping Fan ◽  
Junyi Shi ◽  
Tian Gao
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Water Purification ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Generation Capacity ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Proton exchange membrane is an important factor affecting the power generation capacity and water purification effect of microbial fuel cells. The performance of microbial fuel cells can be improved by modifying the proton exchange membrane by some suitable method. Microbial fuel cells with membranes modified by SiO2/PVDF (polyvinylidene difluoride), sulfonated PVDF and polymerized MMA (methyl methacrylate) electrolyte were tested and their power generation capacity and water purification effect were compared. The experimental results show that the three membrane modification methods can improve the power generation capacity and water purification effect of microbial fuel cells to some extent. Among them, the microbial fuel cell with the polymerized MMA modified membrane showed the best performance, in which the output voltage was 39.52 mV, and the electricity production current density was 18.82 mA/m2, which was 2224% higher than that of microbial fuel cell with the conventional Nafion membrane; and the COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal rate was 54.8%, which was 72.9% higher than that of microbial fuel cell with the conventional Nafion membrane. Modifying the membrane with the polymerized MMA is a very effective way to improve the performance of microbial fuel cells.

scholarly journals Using Shewanella Oneidensis MR1 as a Biocatalyst in a Microscale Microbial Fuel Cell

2013 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jie Yang ◽  
Sasan Ghobadian ◽  
Reza Montazami ◽  
Nastaran Hashemi
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Anode Chamber

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is a promising area in the field of renewable energy because of their capability to use the energy contained in wastewater, which has been previously an untapped source of power. Microscale MFCs are desirable for their small footprints, relatively high power density, fast start-up, and environmentally-friendly process. Microbial fuel cells employ microorganisms as the biocatalysts instead of metal catalysts, which are widely applied in conventional fuel cells. MFCs are capable of generating electricity as long as nutrition is provided. Miniature MFCs have faster power generation recovery than macroscale MFCs. Additionally, since power generation density is affected by the surface-to-volume ratio, miniature MFCs can facilitate higher power density. We have designed and fabricated a microscale microbial fuel cell with a volume of 4 μL in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) chamber. The anode and cathode chambers were separated by a proton exchange membrane. Carbon cloth was used for both the anode and the cathode. Shewanella Oneidensis MR-1 was chosen to be the electrogenic bacteria and was inoculated into the anode chamber. We employed Ferricyanide as the catholyte and introduced it into the cathode chamber with a constant flow rate of approximately 50 μL/hr. We used trypticase soy broth as the bacterial nutrition and added it into the anode chamber approximately every 15 hours once current dropped to base current. Using our miniature MFC, we were able to generate a maximum current of 4.62 μA.

COD Removal and Electricity Generation From Domestic Wastewater Using Different Anode Materials in Microbial Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
G. Shyamala ◽  
N. Saravanakumar ◽  
E. Vamsi Krishna
Keyword(s):  
Power Generation ◽  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Treatment Plant ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Salt Bridge ◽  
Anode Chamber ◽  
Cathode Chamber

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) set a new trend of converting chemical energy or bio energy to electricity from wastewater (domestic and industries) at the same time removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) from the wastewater. Electrical energy generated from microbial fuel cell could be used for small electrical device example biosensors. The main components of MFCs are the anode, and the cathode salt bridge. It contains an anode chamber and a cathode chamber which separate electrodes for the production of electricity, using wastewater in an anaerobic chamber helps grow native microorganisms. Adding substrates increases productivity of the electrons that are moving from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber by help of the salt bridge. Bioreactors based on power generation in MFCs are a new approach to wastewater treatment. Power generation and current is modulated in this system. If it is optimised, MFCs would prove to be new method to offset wastewater treatment plant operating costs.

scholarly journals Generation of Bio-electricity by Microbial Fuel Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (3) ◽  
pp. 231 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maksudur R. Khan ◽  
M. R. Karim ◽  
M. S. A. Amin
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Exchange Resin ◽  
New Technology ◽  
Cation Exchange Resin ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Anode Chamber ◽  
Ion Transfer ◽  
Exchange Membrane

Renewable energy is an increasing need in our society. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology represents a new technology for the regeneration of electricity from what would otherwise be considered waste and can be a vital candidate for energy in this respect. Electricity directly generated by using bacteria while accomplishing wastewater treatment in MFC processes. The present study deals with performance of proton exchange membrane and cation exchange resin for ion transfer. The effect of dimension of Resin Bridge on electricity generation and COD removal was reported. A maximum voltage of 10.5 mV was observed at 400ppm of KMnO4 along with 400ml of dairy in an anode chamber. Average COD removal was in the range of 70% to 90%.

scholarly journals Preparation and Study of Sulfonated Co-Polynaphthoyleneimide Proton-Exchange Membrane for a H2/Air Fuel Cell

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (22) ◽  
pp. 5297
Author(s):  
Ulyana M. Zavorotnaya ◽  
Igor I. Ponomarev ◽  
Yulia A. Volkova ◽  
Alexander D. Modestov ◽  
Vladimir N. Andreev ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diffusion Coefficient ◽  
Proton Exchange Membrane ◽  
Maximum Output Power ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Molar Ratio ◽  
Disulfonic Acid ◽  
Membrane Electrode ◽  
Maximum Output ◽  
Practical Applications

The sulfonated polynaphthoyleneimide polymer (co-PNIS70/30) was prepared by copolymerization of 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether-2,2′-disulfonic acid (ODAS) and 4,4’-methylenebisanthranilic acid (MDAC) with ODAS/MDAC molar ratio 0.7/0.3. High molecular weight co-PNIS70/30 polymers were synthesized either in phenol or in DMSO by catalytic polyheterocyclization in the presence of benzoic acid and triethylamine. The titration reveals the ion-exchange capacity of the polymer equal to 2.13 meq/g. The membrane films were prepared by casting polymer solution. Conductivities of the polymer films were determined using both in- and through-plane geometries and reached ~96 and ~60 mS/cm, respectively. The anisotropy of the conductivity is ascribed to high hydration of the surface layer compared to the bulk. SFG NMR diffusometry shows that, in the temperature range from 213 to 353 K, the 1H self-diffusion coefficient of the co-PNIS70/30 membrane is about one third of the diffusion coefficient of Nafion® at the same humidity. However, temperature dependences of proton conductivities of Nafion® and of co-PNIS70/30 membranes are nearly identical. Membrane–electrode assemblies (MEAs) based on co-PNIS70/30 were fabricated by different procedures. The optimal MEAs with co-PNIS70/30 membranes are characterized by maximum output power of ~370 mW/cm2 at 80 °C. It allows considering sulfonated co-PNIS70/30 polynaphthoyleneimides membrane attractive for practical applications.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document