Effect of increasing anode surface area on the performance of a single chamber microbial fuel cell

Lorenzo, Mirella Di; Scott, Keith; Curtis, Tom; Head, Ian M.

doi:10.1016/j.cej.2009.09.031

Cited by 158 publications

(86 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…Several anode materials have been recently tested in MECs, including graphite granules, reticulate vitreous carbon, carbon foam, and graphite brush electrodes (Aelterman et al, 2006;Chaudhuri and Lovley, 2003;He et al, 2005;Logan et al, 2007;Zuo et al, 2007). The benefits of three dimensional (3D) anodes, which provide increased surface area for microbial attachment (Aelterman et al, 2008;Logan et al, 2007;Zhang et al, 2011), have been demonstrated by comparing a packed bed of irregular graphite granules with three different thicknesses to a one-dimensional configuration (Di Lorenzo et al, 2010). Also, higher power outputs were observed in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) that have a 3D anode architecture (Chen et al, in press;Kim et al, 2011;Logan et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing the electrode size and arrangement in a microbial electrolysis cell

Gil-Carrera

Mehta

Escapa

et al. 2011

Bioresource Technology

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This study investigates the influence of anode and cathode size and arrangement on hydrogen production in a membrane-less flat-plate microbial electrolysis cell (MEC). Protein measurements were used to evaluate microbial density in the carbon felt anode. The protein concentration was observed to significantly decrease with the increase in distance from the anode-cathode interface. Cathode placement on both sides of the carbon felt anode was found to increase the current, but also led to increased losses of hydrogen to hydrogenotrophic activity leading to methane production. Overall, the best performance was obtained in the flat-plate MEC with a two-layer 10 mm thick carbon felt anode and a single gas-diffusion cathode sandwiched between the anode and the hydrogen collection compartments.Crown

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimizing the electrode size and arrangement in a microbial electrolysis cell

Gil-Carrera

Mehta

Escapa

et al. 2011

Bioresource Technology

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“…The higher OLR translates into a higher availability of feedstock to be oxidized in the anode, which favors the metabolic activity of the electroactive biofilm and explains the enhanced power generation. On the contrary, an increased OLR has been related to lower efficiency for electron transfer processes from anode to cathode, hindering the adequate performance in an MFC [97].…”

Section: Effect Of Organic Loading Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Regardless of the waste removal, operating at optimum OLR or sludge loading rate (SLR) is critical for an effective performance of MFCs, since both power density and current efficiency depend on the substrate conversion rate directly related to OLR [63,71,[94][95][96][97][98][99][100][101][102][103]. Thus, the energy generation is generally boosted by increasing the OLR up to a maximum, from which higher loading rates decrease the power output of the MFC.…”

Section: Effect Of Organic Loading Ratementioning

confidence: 99%

Novel Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Sensors and Biosensors

et al. 2018

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A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a type of bio-electrochemical system with novel features, such as electricity generation, wastewater treatment, and biosensor applications. In recent years, progressive trends in MFC research on its chemical, electrochemical, and microbiological aspects has resulted in its noticeable applications in the field of sensing. This review was consequently aimed to provide an overview of the most interesting new applications of MFCs in sensors, such as providing the required electrical current and power for remote sensors (energy supply device for sensors) and detection of pollutants, biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), and specific DNA strands by MFCs without an external analytical device (self-powered biosensors). Moreover, in this review, procedures of MFC operation as a power supply for pH, temperature, and organic loading rate (OLR) sensors, and also self-powered biosensors of toxicity, pollutants, and BOD have been discussed.

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“…The surface area of the anode plays a contributive role in power generation in MFC. A three dimensional anode would prove to be more effective toward electricity generation as it would provide more surface area for attachment of microbes (Di Lorenzo et al 2010). The current conductivity of the different materials which can be used for anode was studied and reported in the order of carbon felt > carbon foam > graphite (Chaudhuri & Lovely 2003).…”

Section: Anode Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The small size of individual graphite brushes and their low resistance enables them to be a prime candidate for their utilization in MFC for various applications ). Di Lorenzo et al (2010) constructed a single-chamber MFC using packed bed of graphite granules as the anode. The current output was measured and found out to be increasing with increasing levels of anode thickness and the overall surface area.…”

Section: Anode Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Microbial fuel cells in bioelectricity production

Tharali

Sain

Osborne

2016

Frontiers in Life Science

104

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Bioelectricity production involves generation of electricity by anaerobic digestion of organic substrates by microbes. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that converts chemical energy released as a result of oxidation of complex organic carbon sources which are utilized as substrates by microorganisms to produce electrical energy thereby proving to be an efficient means of sustainable energy production. The electrons released due to the microbial metabolism are captured to maintain a constant power density, without an effective carbon emission in the ecosystem. The various parameters involved in MFC technology toward power generation include maximum power density, coulombic efficiencies and sometimes chemical oxygen demand removal rate which evaluates the effectiveness of the device. Application of microbes toward bioremediation at the same time resulting in generation of electricity makes MFC technology a highly advantageous proposition which can be applied in various sectors of industrial, municipal and agricultural Waste Management. Although the efficiency of MFCs in power generation initially was low, recent modifications in the design, components and working have enhanced the power output to a significant level thereby enabling application of MFCs in various fields including wastewater treatment, biosensors and bioremediation. The following review provides an outline about the components involved, working, modifications and applications of MFC technology for various research and industrial objectives. ARTICLE HISTORY

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Effect of increasing anode surface area on the performance of a single chamber microbial fuel cell

Cited by 158 publications

References 32 publications

Optimizing the electrode size and arrangement in a microbial electrolysis cell

Optimizing the electrode size and arrangement in a microbial electrolysis cell

Novel Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells in Sensors and Biosensors

Microbial fuel cells in bioelectricity production

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