Long-term performance of sediment microbial fuel cells with multiple anodes

Zhao, Qian; Ji, Min; Li, Ruying; Ren, Zhiyong Jason

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2017.03.002

Cited by 41 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 36 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These findings suggest that the electrical conductivity of carbon cloth is a key factor in its capacity to enrich ANME/SRB and enhance methane‐fueled sulfide production. Recent microbial fuel cell studies are consistent with this interpretation, as conductive carbon substrates have been used to stimulate electricity generation from methane in ANME enrichments (Chen & Smith, ; Ding et al, ; Zhao, Ji, Li, & Ren, ).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 65%

Harnessing a methane‐fueled, sediment‐free mixed microbial community for utilization of distributed sources of natural gas

Marlow¹,

Kumar²,

Enalls³

et al. 2018

Biotech & Bioengineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Harnessing the metabolic potential of uncultured microbial communities is a compelling opportunity for the biotechnology industry, an approach that would vastly expand the portfolio of usable feedstocks. Methane is particularly promising because it is abundant and energy‐rich, yet the most efficient methane‐activating metabolic pathways involve mixed communities of anaerobic methanotrophic archaea and sulfate reducing bacteria. These communities oxidize methane at high catabolic efficiency and produce chemically reduced by‐products at a comparable rate and in near‐stoichiometric proportion to methane consumption. These reduced compounds can be used for feedstock and downstream chemical production, and at the production rates observed in situ they are an appealing, cost‐effective prospect. Notably, the microbial constituents responsible for this bioconversion are most prominent in select deep‐sea sediments, and while they can be kept active at surface pressures, they have not yet been cultured in the lab. In an industrial capacity, deep‐sea sediments could be periodically recovered and replenished, but the associated technical challenges and substantial costs make this an untenable approach for full‐scale operations. In this study, we present a novel method for incorporating methanotrophic communities into bioindustrial processes through abstraction onto low mass, easily transportable carbon cloth artificial substrates. Using Gulf of Mexico methane seep sediment as inoculum, optimal physicochemical parameters were established for methane‐oxidizing, sulfide‐generating mesocosm incubations. Metabolic activity required >∼40% seawater salinity, peaking at 100% salinity and 35 °C. Microbial communities were successfully transferred to a carbon cloth substrate, and rates of methane‐dependent sulfide production increased more than threefold per unit volume. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that carbon cloth‐based communities were substantially streamlined and were dominated by Desulfotomaculum geothermicum. Fluorescence in situ hybridization microscopy with carbon cloth fibers revealed a novel spatial arrangement of anaerobic methanotrophs and sulfate reducing bacteria suggestive of an electronic coupling enabled by the artificial substrate. This system: 1) enables a more targeted manipulation of methane‐activating microbial communities using a low‐mass and sediment‐free substrate; 2) holds promise for the simultaneous consumption of a strong greenhouse gas and the generation of usable downstream products; and 3) furthers the broader adoption of uncultured, mixed microbial communities for biotechnological use.

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 65%

Harnessing a methane‐fueled, sediment‐free mixed microbial community for utilization of distributed sources of natural gas

Marlow¹,

Kumar²,

Enalls³

et al. 2018

Biotech & Bioengineering

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Power generation is because of bacterial metabolism in the organic sediments, where the electrons are driven towards cathode, and the potential difference established between cathode and anode is recorded as current. Reduction reaction in the water suspended cathode results in water production . Power generation in SMFCs depends on bacterial activity in sediments to catalyze the oxidation of organics and create extracellular electron transfer towards the anode .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Reduction reaction in the water suspended cathode results in water production. 5 Power generation in SMFCs depends on bacterial activity in sediments to catalyze the oxidation of organics and create extracellular electron transfer towards the anode. 6 Thus, organic content in the sediment substrate and its characteristics are highly significant aspects in SMFCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Sludge selection on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Summary Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are being constructed and operated to produce renewable power for remote monitoring. They are highly advantageous than typical MFCs. In this study, 2 kinds of sludge (activated sludge and anaerobic sludge) were used in SMFCs for investigating their performance characteristics such as the power density production and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal. The performance of the SMFC with anaerobic sludge was found to be better than that of activated sludge. Experimental results revealed that the maximum power density and COD removal were reported in anaerobic sludge SMFC (10.36 mW/m2, 62%) and the activated sludge SMFC produced 3.97 mW/m2, with a COD removal of 58.2%. The dissolved oxygen values for activated and anaerobic sludge were 3.45 and 0.75 ppm respectively. Control SMFC was run without sediment, and its performance was inferior compared to the SCMFCs with sludge. Generally, the anaerobic SMFC had 2.52 times better power density production than the activated SMFC and control. Moreover, the COD removal was 19% higher than the control. Results concluded that the selection of sludge plays an important role in the SMFC performance. The findings of this study will be useful for the practical applications of SMFCs in real wastewater treatment plants and energy production in the future.

show abstract

“…This is somewhat higher than in previous studies [39], and may have resulted from the presence of worms in the anode sediments. Although the activity of the worms destroyed the anaerobic environment around the anode and destabilizes the self-powered systems [40], it could enhance the transfer of protons and electrons as well as accelerate the degradation of the organic matters by the augmentation of dissolved oxygen. Because the electrodes and sediments of the reactors were the same, the systems' resistance depended mostly on the solutions of the cathodes.…”

Section: Energy Generationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Construction of a Self-Powered System for Simultaneous In Situ Remediation of Nitrate and Cr(VI) Contaminated Synthetic Groundwater and River Sediment

Han

et al. 2018

Sustainability

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

A novel self-powered system was constructed to in situ remove nitrate and Cr(VI) from synthetic groundwater and achieve river sediment remediation simultaneously. The sediment organic matter in an anodic chamber was used as a carbon source to provide self-powered energy to reduce the cathode's contaminants. With the acceptance of protons and electrons, nitrate and Cr(VI) were transformed into nitrite and Cr(III), respectively. In a 72 h test with both nitrate and Cr(VI) present, nitrate was removed at a rate of 70.96 mg/m 3 ·h and Cr(VI) at a rate of 8.95 mg/m 3 ·h. When a phosphate buffer was used in the test, their removal rates were changed to 140.83 mg/m 3 ·h and 8.33 mg/m 3 ·h, respectively. The results showed that the self-powered system could achieve the simultaneous reduction of nitrate and Cr(VI), although the presence of Cr(VI) hindered nitrate reduction. This system could realize simultaneous in situ groundwater and sediment remediation, with no need for additional energy or materials. nitrate and Cr(VI) coexisting in groundwater using 3-dimensional bio-electrochemical systems (BES) has been achieved, but it still needs applied potentials [16].Aquatic sediment acts as a repository for multiple pollutants in rivers and lakes, and as a significant source of internal pollutants. Pollutants include organic matter, metal contaminants, and inorganic salts [17][18][19]. Organic substances play an important role in the deterioration of water quality because when it catabolized, the dissolved oxygen in water consumed, thus results in an anoxic or anaerobic condition of water. Conditions, such as water disturbances and temperature/pH changes can lead to contaminants being released from the sediments [20].Many strategies have been proposed for the remediation of sediments. Although ex situ remediation methods, such as dredging and dry excavation can control the release of pollutants, these methods are harmful to the water environment and are also a waste of resources [19,21]. Since there are large quantities of organic matter in the sediments [22,23], with the use of sediment as a carbon source in sediment microbial fuel cells systems (sMFC) [24,25], the organic matter can be used as a carbon source, as well as an energy source for microorganisms to reduce other contaminants. To our best knowledge, the research of simultaneous treatment of contaminated groundwater and the remediation of sediment achieved without inputting additional energy and materials, has not been reported yet.In this study, a self-powered system was constructed for the in situ removal of nitrate and Cr(VI) from synthetic groundwater, and the remediation of sediment simultaneously. Using Ti wire and proton exchanger, for the connection of river sediment rich in organic matter and the nearby nitrate and Cr(VI) contaminated groundwater for their simultaneous remediation. The system was half biotic: the aquatic sediment on the anode side contained electro-active organisms, whilst the cathode side was abiotic. The aquatic sediment was used as an e...

show abstract

Long-term performance of sediment microbial fuel cells with multiple anodes

Cited by 41 publications

References 36 publications

Harnessing a methane‐fueled, sediment‐free mixed microbial community for utilization of distributed sources of natural gas

Harnessing a methane‐fueled, sediment‐free mixed microbial community for utilization of distributed sources of natural gas

Sludge selection on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells

Construction of a Self-Powered System for Simultaneous In Situ Remediation of Nitrate and Cr(VI) Contaminated Synthetic Groundwater and River Sediment

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About