Microbial Fuel Cell: The Definitive Technological Approach for Valorizing Organic Wastes

Fernández, Francisco J.; Lobato, Justo; Villaseñor, José; Rodrigo, Manuel A.; Cañizares, Pablo

doi:10.1007/698_2014_273

Cited by 8 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 127 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…The role of the phototrophic algae and cyanobacteria is to fix CO 2 to generate organics, which are consumed by the heterotrophic bacteria. This is a reasonable assumption as a similar mechanism operates in 'photosynthetic algal-microbial fuel cells', where bacteria in an MFC are batch fed with mixed photosynthetic organisms from an algal bioreactor [32]. However, many more studies are needed to investigate and understand the anodic processes occurring in a p-MFC.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of anode and cathode materials in photomicrobial fuel cells

Schneider

Thorne

Cameron

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Photomicrobial fuel cells (p-MFCs) are devices that use photosynthetic organisms (such as cyanobacteria or algae) to turn light energy into electrical energy. In a p-MFC, the anode accepts electrons from microorganisms that are either growing directly on the anode surface (biofilm) or are free floating in solution (planktonic). The nature of both the anode and cathode material is critical for device efficiency. An ideal anode is biocompatible and facilitates direct electron transfer from the microorganisms, with no need for an electron mediator. For a p-MFC, there is the additional requirement that the anode should not prevent light from perfusing through the photosynthetic cells. The cathode should facilitate the rapid reaction of protons and oxygen to form water so as not to rate limit the device. In this paper, we first review the range of anode and cathode materials currently used in p-MFCs. We then present our own data comparing cathode materials in a p-MFC and our first results using porous ceramic anodes in a mediator-free p-MFC.

show abstract

mentioning

confidence: 99%

An investigation of anode and cathode materials in photomicrobial fuel cells

Schneider

Thorne

Cameron

2016

Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Numerous studies have focused on exploiting constructions in MFCs [11], and there is a need to study the systems with electric potential between the anode and cathode. Various MFC systems with such configurations have been the focus of recent studies.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Optimization of Bioelectricity Generation in Constructed Wetland-Coupled Microbial Fuel Cell Systems

Song

Zhang

Long

et al. 2017

Water

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Constructed wetland-coupled microbial fuel cell systems (CW-MFCs) incorporate an aerobic zone and an anaerobic zone to generate electricity that achieves the oxidative degradation of contaminants. However, there are few reports on the performance of such coupled systems. In this study, we determined the optimal configuration of CW-MFCs to characterize their electricity generation performance. Based on the results using different levels of dissolved oxygen among the CW-MFCs, we concluded that a 20-cm distance between the anode and cathode produced an optimal removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 94.90% with a 0.15 W/m 3 power density, 339.80 Ω internal resistance, and 0.31% coulombic efficiency. In addition, a COD of 200 mg/L provided greater electricity generation (741 mV open circuit voltage, 0.20 W/m 3 power density, 339.80 Ω internal resistance, and 0.49 mA current) and purification ability (90.45% COD removal) to meet system COD loading limitations than did higher COD values. By adding 50 mM phosphate buffer solution to synthetic wastewater, relatively high conductivity and buffer capacity were achieved, resulting in improvement in electricity generation. These findings highlight important aspects of bioelectricity generation in CW-MFCs.

show abstract