Dependency of simultaneous Cr(VI), Cu(II) and Cd(II) reduction on the cathodes of microbial electrolysis cells self-driven by microbial fuel cells

Electricity generation and bivalent copper reduction as a function of operation time and cathode electrode material in microbial fuel cells

“…Thus, for TS and SSM, there was a shift away from corrosion to a predominantly cathodic Cu(II) reduction over time, although it was not possible to discern the relative contribution that these two different processes may have had on Cu(II) reduction. Cu(II) was not detected in the anolyte during these tests, although its existence in the cation exchange membrane could not be excluded [11]. Cu(II) was not detected in the anolyte during these tests, although its existence in the cation exchange membrane could not be excluded [11].…”

“…Cu(II) was not detected in the anolyte during these tests, although its existence in the cation exchange membrane could not be excluded [11]. Cu(II) was not detected in the anolyte during these tests, although its existence in the cation exchange membrane could not be excluded [11].…”

“…The anodes were inoculated from the anodes of previous operating MFCs running on acetate for faster anodic biofilm acclimation [3,11,19,20]. The composite of anolyte was as previously described [21].…”

“…−0.30 V for acetate under standard conditions vs. SHE) in the anolyte [4]. MFCs with various operating volumes and experimental conditions, as well as different architectures, have been explored for more efficient Cu(II) reduction and higher electricity generation with varying degrees of success, as shown in Table 1 [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. However, these studies do not investigate the performance of the cell in multiple batch cycles, and the long-term stability of MFCs for Cu(II) reduction, even though the longevity of the MFCs is crucial for its commercial application.…”

“…However, these studies do not investigate the performance of the cell in multiple batch cycles, and the long-term stability of MFCs for Cu(II) reduction, even though the longevity of the MFCs is crucial for its commercial application. Non-corrosive, carbon-based materials such as carbon cloth, carbon rod, graphite felt, graphite foil, graphite rod, graphite plate, as well as, metals of titanium wire and copper plate have been used as cathodes in MFCs for Cu(II) reduction [3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13]. In view of a practical environmental application, the prolonged operation of MFCs results in increasing amount of copper deposited on the surface of the cathodes, and as a result, the interaction of the cathode material with the deposited copper becomes crucial for determining the long-term performance of the cell.…”