Bioelectricity Generation from Wastewaters in Microbial Fuel Cells

2012 ◽  
Vol 512-515 ◽  
pp. 1456-1460 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nipon Pisutpaisal ◽  
Ubonrat Sirisukpoca
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Half Cell ◽  
Current Output ◽  
Bioelectricity Generation ◽  
Operation Temperature ◽  
Anodic Chamber ◽  
Cathodic Chamber ◽  
Circuit Resistance

The study investigated bioelectricity generation from three types of wastewaters including artificial (AW), buffered brewery (BW) and buffered canteen (CW), in double chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) concentrations of influent were varied in the range of 125 - 1000 mg L-1. Influent pH and operation temperature were fixed at 7 and 30oC. 0.35 mL min-1wastewater was fed into a half-cell anodic chamber, while 5 mL min-1 oxygen-saturated distilled water was fed into a half-cell cathodic chamber. The circuit resistance was fixed at 10 ohms. The results showed that maximum current output obtained from AW, BW and CW with the initial BOD concentration of 1000 mg L-1were 0.92, 0.78 and 0.70 mA, respectively. The currents were directly proportional to the BOD concentrations in the influent for all wastewaters. The maximum BOD removal of AW, BW and CW was 90, 65 and 75%, respectively.

scholarly journals Synthesis of proton exchange membranes for dual-chambered microbial fuel cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (5) ◽  
pp. 611-623 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sandeep Dharmadhikari ◽  
Prabir Ghosh ◽  
Manivannan Ramachandran
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Water Uptake ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Proton Exchange Membranes ◽  
Exchange Capacity ◽  
Proton Exchange ◽  
Poly Vinyl Alcohol ◽  
Precursor Material ◽  
Anodic Chamber

Proton exchange membranes (PEMs) were synthesized using three different compositions of poly(oxyethylene) (POE), poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA), chitosan (CS) and phosphoric acid (PA) in weight ratios of 1:1:1:1, 1:2:1:1 and 1:3:1:1 by physical blending and the casting method. Water uptake of the membrane increases with increasing concentration of PVA. A higher percentage of water uptake signifies a higher ion exchange capacity (IEC) of the synthesized membrane. The synthesized membranes were evaluated in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and the performance observed. The synthesized membranes were characterized for identification of precursor material and inter polymer interactions using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis, respectively. The removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) depends on the microbial activity in the anodic chamber. In the present study, the composition of the membrane was optimized and compared with other membranes that had been synthesized by different compositions of all materials. COD removal in the MFC-3 setup connected with an M-3 membrane was found to be 88 %.

scholarly journals Bioelectricity production from tofu wastewater using microbial fuel cells with microalgae Spirulina sp as catholyte

2020 ◽  
Vol 202 ◽  
pp. 08007
Author(s):  
Wahyu Zuli Pratiwi ◽  
Hadiyanto Hadiyanto ◽  
Purwanto Purwanto ◽  
Muthi’ah Nur Fadlilah
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Organic Waste ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Salt Bridge ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Biofuel Production ◽  
Pre Treatment ◽  
Made In

Microalgae-Microbial Fuel Cells (MMFCs) are very popular to be used to treat organic waste. MMFCs can function as an energy-producing wastewater pre-treatment system. Wastewater can provide an adequate supply of nutrients, support the large capacity of biofuel production, and can be integrated with existing wastewater treatment infrastructure. The reduced content of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) is one way to measure the efficiency of wastewater treatment. MMFCs reactors are made in the form of two chambers (anode and cathode) both of which are connected by a salt bridge. Tofu wastewater as an anode and Spirulina sp as a cathode. To improve MFCs performance which is to obtain maximum COD removal and electricity generation, nutrient NaHCO3 as the nutrient carbon source for Spirulina sp was varied. The system running phase on 12 days. The results were Spirulina sp treated with MFCs technology has better growth than non-MFCs. The MMFC generated a maximum power density of 21.728 mW/cm2 and achieved 57.37% COD removal. These results showed that the combined process was effective in treating tofu wastewater.

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.

scholarly journals Scaling up Microbial Fuel Cells for Treating Swine Wastewater

Water ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1803 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yuko Goto ◽  
Naoko Yoshida
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Cod Removal ◽  
Swine Wastewater ◽  
Flow Mode ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Simultaneous Generation

Conventional aerobic treatment of swine wastewater, which generally contains 4500–8200 mg L−1 of organic matter, is energy-consuming. The aim of this study was to assess the application of scaled-up microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with different capacities (i.e., 1.5 L, 12 L, and 100 L) for removing organic matter from swine wastewater. The MFCs were single-chambered, consisting of an anode of microbially reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and an air-cathode of platinum-coated carbon cloth. The MFCs were polarized via an external resistance of 3–10 Ω for 40 days for the 1.5 L-MFC and 120 days for the 12L- and 100 L-MFC. The MFCs were operated in continuous flow mode (hydraulic retention time: 3–5 days). The 100 L-MFC achieved an average chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 52%, which corresponded to a COD removal rate of 530 mg L−1 d−1. Moreover, the 100 L-MFC showed an average and maximum electricity generation of 0.6 and 2.2 Wh m−3, respectively. Our findings suggest that MFCs can effectively be used for swine wastewater treatment coupled with the simultaneous generation of electricity.

scholarly journals Microbial Structure and Energy Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells Powered with Waste Anaerobic Digestate

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (18) ◽  
pp. 4712
Author(s):  
Dawid Nosek ◽  
Agnieszka Cydzik-Kwiatkowska
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Volatile Fatty Acids ◽  
Current Knowledge ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Microbial Structure ◽  
Microbial Composition ◽  
Start Up

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.

Cobalt‐based Catalysts Modified Cathode for Enhancing Bioelectricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment in Air‐breathing Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells

2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (8) ◽  
pp. 1465-1476 ◽  
Author(s):  
Meng Li ◽  
Kengqiang Zhong ◽  
Liqiu Zhang ◽  
Shengdan Wang ◽  
Hongguo Zhang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Air Breathing ◽  
Bioelectricity Generation
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