Effect of ionic strength, cation exchanger and inoculum age on the performance of Microbial Fuel Cells

Yama, Mohan; Das, Debabrata

doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.05.101

Cited by 57 publications

(17 citation statements)

References 17 publications

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“…The MFC technology is continuously undergoing significant advancements in key factors that improve its efficiency in power generation or wastewater treatment, including in‐depth knowledge about electron transfer mechanisms, formation of better performing and more robust anodic biofilms, electrode materials better suited to the establishment of electrochemically‐active microbial biofilms, as well as innovative MFC designs. Yet, it still needs to overcome major challenges for upscaling at industrially‐relevant dimensions . Upscaling is a critical matter for profitable MFC technology.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual gas diffusion cathode design for microbial fuel cell (MFC): optimizing the suitable mode of operation in terms of bioelectrochemical and bioelectro‐kinetic evaluation

Pasupuleti

Srikanth

Domínguez-Benetton

et al. 2015

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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BACKGROUND Upscaling microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to make them energy‐competitive systems requires a systematic understanding of their operating conditions. This study emphasizes the operation of a new MFC design with two gas diffusion cathodes under three different operational modes (batch mode (MFC‐BM), semi‐continuous mode (MFC‐SCM) and continuous mode (MFC‐CM)), towards increasing the power density, substrate utilization, bioelectrochemical kinetics and energy conversion efficiencies. RESULTS Higher power density was recorded with MFC‐SCM (20.54 mW m−2) followed by MFC‐CM (17.22 mW m−2) and MFC‐BM (0.75 mW m−2). Such power density magnitudes were obtained with high anode projected surface area 220 cm2, which is about 10–100 times larger than frequently used in laboratory‐scale MFCs. On the contrary, susbtrate utilization was higher with MFC‐BM (91–96%) followed by MFC‐SCM (74–84%) and MFC‐CM (53–81%). A higher coulombic efficiency (CE) was obtained with the MFC‐CM (7.5–11.2%), followed by MFC‐SCM (5.4–5.6%) and MFC‐BM (0.5–4%). This is of interest due to its dependence on both current generation as well as substrate utilization. Cyclic voltammograms along with derived bioelectro‐kinetic parameters, i.e. redox Tafel's slopes (βa/βc) and electron transfer co‐efficients (αa/αc), also explained the higher performance of MFC‐CM and MFC‐SCM. CONCLUSION Output from this study demonstrates clearly that the new MFC design can be effectively operated under continuous mode operation with high retention time to enhance wastewater treatment along with good amounts of power output. © 2014 Society of Chemical Industry

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Dual gas diffusion cathode design for microbial fuel cell (MFC): optimizing the suitable mode of operation in terms of bioelectrochemical and bioelectro‐kinetic evaluation

Pasupuleti

Srikanth

Domínguez-Benetton

et al. 2015

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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“…So far, most MFCs have been developed in solutions with low conductivities, [8][9][10][11] typically not exceeding 2 S m À1 . [12,13] In such conditions, a current density of 100 A m À2 flowing between electrodes 2 cm apart would cause an ohmic drop of 1000 mV.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

Correlation of the Electrochemical Kinetics of High‐Salinity‐Tolerant Bioanodes with the Structure and Microbial Composition of the Biofilm

et al. 2014

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Increasing the conductivity of the electrolytes used in microbial electrochemical systems is an essential prerequisite to large‐scale application of these technologies. Microbial anodes formed on carbon felt from a salt marsh inoculum under polarisation at 0.1 V (versus a saturated calomel electrode), generated up to 85 A m−2 in media that contained 30–45 g L−1 of NaCl. Analyses of microbial populations showed a stringent selection of the two microbial genera Marinobacter and Desulfuromonas. Currents decreased if NaCl concentration was increased to 60 g L−1. This highest salinity was shown to consistently impact the bioanode performance in three ways: voltammetry indicated degraded electron‐transfer kinetics, confocal laser scanning microscopy showed a modified biofilm structure and DNA pyrosequencing detected a decrease in the level of Desulfuromonas spp. relative to Marinobacter spp. A consistent correlation was, thus, found between electrochemical kinetics, biofilm structure and the composition of the microbial community.

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“…The capability to produce its own fuel by converting inorganic carbon into carbohydrates via photosynthesis distinguishes the cyanobacterial solar cell from enzymatic fuel cells18 and other biofuel cells19 such as the microbial fuel cell 20–22. Although a variety of electron transport pathways,23 e.g., direct electron transport via conductive pili24 and membrane bounded cytochrome25 and indirect electron transport via self‐excreted mediator,26 have been realized in microbial fuel cells, few have been observed in cyanobacterial photoelectrochemical cells.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mediator toxicity and dual effect of glucose on the lifespan for current generation by Cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6714 based photoelectrochemical cells

Xie¹,

Li²,

Tang³

2010

J of Chemical Tech & Biotech

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BACKGROUND: The capability of cyanobacteria to convert carbon dioxide into carbohydrates offers a promising carbon-neutral energy solution. Unfortunately, the lifespan of cyanobacteria based photoelectrochemical cells is poor because discharge current drops to zero within days. The primary factor that limits lifespan was believed to be the toxicity of an artificial mediator that extracts electrons from cyanoacteria to electrode. It is critical to experimentally identify the true limiting factor such that we could prolong the lifespan for practical use.

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Effect of ionic strength, cation exchanger and inoculum age on the performance of Microbial Fuel Cells

Cited by 57 publications

References 17 publications

Dual gas diffusion cathode design for microbial fuel cell (MFC): optimizing the suitable mode of operation in terms of bioelectrochemical and bioelectro‐kinetic evaluation

Dual gas diffusion cathode design for microbial fuel cell (MFC): optimizing the suitable mode of operation in terms of bioelectrochemical and bioelectro‐kinetic evaluation

Correlation of the Electrochemical Kinetics of High‐Salinity‐Tolerant Bioanodes with the Structure and Microbial Composition of the Biofilm

Mediator toxicity and dual effect of glucose on the lifespan for current generation by Cyanobacterium Synechocystis PCC 6714 based photoelectrochemical cells

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