Construction and operation of freshwater sediment microbial fuel cell for electricity generation

Abstract

In this work, sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) with granule activated carbon (GAC) cathode and stainless steel anode was constructed in laboratory tests and various factors on SMFC power output were investigated. The maximum power densities for the SMFC with GAC cathode was 3.5 mW m(-2), it was much higher than SMFC with round stainless steel cathode. Addition of cellulose reduced the output power from SMFC at the beginning of experiments, while the output power was found to increase after adding cellulose to sediments on day 90 of operation. On 160 day, maximum power density from the SMFC with adding 0.2% cellulose reached to 11.2 mW m(-2). In addition, the surface morphology of stainless steel anode on day 90 was analyzed by scanning electron microscope. It was found that the protection layer of the stainless steel as electrode in SMFCs was destroyed to some extent.

To prevent the occurrence of black water agglomerate through delaying decomposition of cyanobacterial bloom biomass by sediment microbial fuel cell

“…Due to relatively simple configuration as well as being capable of longterm operation without extra management, SMFC with cheap electrode materials could be easily applied for field condition [14,15]. Thus, this laboratory study would be helpful in developing a valid strategy to prevent black water agglomerate in sensitive zones (such as the intake for drink water treatment) in shallow lakes.…”

“…In addition, SMFC is characterized with the spatial separation of the oxidative, electron-generating half-reaction at the anode and the electron-consuming half-reaction with oxygen at the cathode [14][15][16]. Thus, a relatively high value of an anodic redox potential could be obtained, and the anode as electron acceptor appeared to be thermodynamically favorable.…”

“…Thus, this laboratory study would be helpful in developing a valid strategy to prevent black water agglomerate in sensitive zones (such as the intake for drink water treatment) in shallow lakes. Considering that oxygen concentration in the water column near the water-sediment interface in eutrophic lakes was lower in hot seasons and then inhibited cathode reaction [37], recently, modified SMFC configuration through applying a wicking cathode or a floated cathode within the surface water was proposed to avoid this limitation [15,23,38]. However, how to practically apply SMFC in specific zone of lakes for avoiding black water agglomerate remained unknown and needs further studies.…”

“…A SMFC is a type of microbial fuel cell (MFC) with an anode electrode embedded in anaerobic sediments and a cathode electrode suspended in the aerobic water column above the anode electrode [13][14][15]. Anode-respiring microorganisms in sediments transfer electrons produced during the oxidation of organic or inorganic matters to the anode electrode.…”

Removal and Changes of Sediment Organic Matter and Electricity Generation by Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells and Amorphous Ferric Hydroxide

“…13 In freshwater environments, the maximum power densities in SMFC with felt graphite 14 and carbon paper 15 The reason why graphite fiber brush was considered as cathode is that graphite fiber brush can increase the oxygen transfer rate to cathode surface and form a biofilm (biocathode), which accelerates the oxygen reduction reaction. 9 Besides, the low conductivity of freshwater SMFC had a negative effect on power output.…”