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.

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

Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 1042 ◽  
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).

Application of PAN-Based Carbon Fibers as Brush Anode in Microbial Fuel Cells for Higher Electricity Production

2012 ◽  
Vol 251 ◽  
pp. 329-333
Author(s):  
En Ren Zhang ◽  
Jun Le Niu ◽  
Lei Liu
Keyword(s):  
Heat Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Carbon Fiber ◽  
Electrochemical Performance ◽  
Carbon Fibers ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Carbon Materials ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Maximum Current

PAN-based carbon fiber was used to prepare brush anode, and its electrochemical performance was investigated in a tubular microbial fuel cells. Experimental results showed that electricity production can be enhanced by using brush anode, with maximum current (up to 25 mA) much higher than that of reported microbial fuel cells using other types of carbon materials. Heat treatment is demonstrated to be an effective method to further increase the performance of the brush anode, not only reducing the start-up time of the microbial fuel cells, but also increasing the duration of electricity production and polarization properties.

scholarly journals Effects of temporary external voltage on the performance and community of microbial fuel cells

2020 ◽  
Vol 81 (9) ◽  
pp. 1972-1982
Author(s):  
Jing Guo ◽  
Jianping Cheng ◽  
Jiaquan Wang ◽  
Zerui Zhang ◽  
Xiaoyun Xie ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Applied Voltage ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
High Throughput Sequencing ◽  
Nitrate Removal ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Control Group ◽  
External Voltage ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Current Densities

Abstract This study evaluated the effects of temporary external voltage on the performance of two-chambered microbial fuel cells (MFC) that use nitrate wastewater as a substrate. Results indicate that the external voltage affected the performance of the MFC during their operation, and this effect remained even after the voltage was removed. The degradation efficiency of the chemical oxygen demand increased in the MFC under external voltages of 0.5, 0.8, and 1.1 V, and the optimal applied voltage was 1.1 V. Compared with the control group without external voltages, the MFC under a voltage of 1.1 V achieved higher current densities and efficiency of nitrate removal during their operation. The MFC with an applied voltage of 1.1 V also achieved the highest maximum power density of 2,035.08 mW/m3. The applied voltages of 0.5 and 0.8 V exerted a positive effect on the performance of the MFC. High-throughput sequencing was used to explore the anode and cathode biofilms. Results showed that the influence was highly associated with microbial community in bio-anode. The predominant functional family changed from Methanotrichaceae during start-up to Flavobacteriaceae in a steady phase.

Microbial fuel cells: Devices for real wastewater treatment, rather than electricity production

2021 ◽  
Vol 775 ◽  
pp. 145904
Author(s):  
Jaecheul Yu ◽  
Younghyun Park ◽  
Evy Widyaningsih ◽  
Sunah Kim ◽  
Younggy Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Real Wastewater

Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells

2014 ◽  
Vol 157 ◽  
pp. 114-119 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tyler Huggins ◽  
Heming Wang ◽  
Joshua Kearns ◽  
Peter Jenkins ◽  
Zhiyong Jason Ren
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrode Material ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Production

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 Electricity production and sludge reduction by integrating microbial fuel cells in anoxic-oxic process

2017 ◽  
Vol 69 ◽  
pp. 346-352 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benyi Xiao ◽  
Meng Luo ◽  
Xiao Wang ◽  
Zuoxing Li ◽  
Hong Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Sludge Reduction

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.

Reducing start-up time and minimizing energy losses of Microbial Fuel Cells using Maximum Power Point Tracking strategy

2014 ◽  
Vol 269 ◽  
pp. 403-411 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniele Molognoni ◽  
Sebastià Puig ◽  
M. Dolors Balaguer ◽  
Alessandro Liberale ◽  
Andrea G. Capodaglio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Maximum Power Point Tracking ◽  
Energy Losses ◽  
Maximum Power Point ◽  
Point Tracking ◽  
Power Point Tracking ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Power Point ◽  
Tracking Strategy
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