Operation and characterization of a microbial fuel cell fed with pretreated cheese whey at different organic loads

Tremouli, Asimina; Αντωνοπούλου, Γεωργία; Bebelis, S.; Lyberatos, Gérasimos

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.173

Cited by 54 publications

(21 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…This was also confirmed by our previous studies, using this MFC configuration, where it was found that the ohmic overpotential remained the main obstacle towards dual chamber MFCs optimization [26,37]. In general, factors such as the electrode material or surface area, the distance between the electrodes, or the proton exchange membrane affect power generation and performance of this type of MFCs [37].…”

Section: Maximum Power Outputsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Specifically, the reported maximum power density was 46 mWm -2 using filtered sterilized cheese whey [37], 0.3-49 mW m -2 using acetate [12,22,33], and 15.2-33 mW m -2 using glucose [26,36] as energy source, respectively. The similar power outputs reported in literature verified the reproducibility of our experimental results operating at similar conditions.…”

Section: Maximum Power Outputmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Furthermore, a maximum power density of about 20 mW m -2 reported by Guimaraes and Linares [19] using pure glycerol in a dual chamber H-type MFC, equipped with rod electrodes. Apart from glycerol, the maximum power density when using cysteine was 19 mW m -2 [35], glucose 33 mW m -2 [36], 46 mW m -2 using diluted cheese whey [37] and 2.6-8.4 mW m -2 using xylose [38] as energy source, respectively.…”

Section: Maximum Power Outputmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Anaerobic Degradation of Pure Glycerol for Electricity Generation using a MFC: The Effect of Substrate Concentration

Tremouli

Vlassis

Αντωνοπούλου³

et al. 2016

Waste Biomass Valor

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Alternative glycerol treatment and valorization, could be a promising solution, contributing to the biodiesel production economy. Thus, the potential of electricity generation from pure glycerol, using a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC), was evaluated. The effect of glycerol concentration in a range of 0.5-5.2 g COD L -1 on MFC performance was examined. In order to achieve a stable MFC performance and a high power density, special attention was paid during the acclimation phase of the anaerobic consortium, which was performed using glucose, instead of glycerol, as substrate. The best performance of the cell was observed at a glycerol concentration of 3.2 g COD L -1 . At this concentration, the Coulombic efficiency (CE) was 34.1 %, the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency was approximately 99 % and the maximum power density was 65.4 mW m -2 . Further increase of glycerol concentration to 5.2 g COD L -1 did not enhance the MFC performance, since the power density remained at 63.4 mW m -2 , while the CE and the COD removal efficiency decreased to 22.1 and 81 %, respectively. The experimental results showed that glycerol is a suitable and promising substrate for power generation, using a simple two-chamber MFC and that acclimation of anaerobic sludge using glucose as substrate, is a suitable procedure for securing a stable MFC performance, even at high glycerol concentrations.

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Section: Maximum Power Outputsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Maximum Power Outputmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Maximum Power Outputmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 1 more Smart Citation

Anaerobic Degradation of Pure Glycerol for Electricity Generation using a MFC: The Effect of Substrate Concentration

Tremouli

Vlassis

Αντωνοπούλου³

et al. 2016

Waste Biomass Valor

Self Cite

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“…[27] In this case, the higher COD removal efficiencies can be attributed to a high ratio of non-electroactive bacteria such as methanogens, as also reflected in the low CE. When looking at other treatment processes than MET such as biohydrogen production via dark fermentation, RE may remain low < 42 %, [28] but sugars and organic acids can be degraded with an efficiency > 90 % . [28,29] In terms of maximum current that was achieved, the best average for this study was comparable to another study in Table 1.…”

Section: Macroscopic Treatment Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

“…When looking at other treatment processes than MET such as biohydrogen production via dark fermentation, RE may remain low < 42 %, [28] but sugars and organic acids can be degraded with an efficiency > 90 % . [28,29] In terms of maximum current that was achieved, the best average for this study was comparable to another study in Table 1. Summary of results from other studies treating whey as substrate and from this study.…”

Section: Macroscopic Treatment Performancementioning

confidence: 99%

Investigating Community Dynamics and Performance During Microbial Electrochemical Degradation of Whey

et al. 2020

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Whey is a main by‐product of the dairy industry and is difficult to valorise for small and medium enterprises. Microbial electrochemical technologies could be the key for these enterprises to exploit this current waste product. Whey removal and conversion to electrical current was investigated at microbial anodes using potentiostatically controlled half‐cell experiments. The anodes were fed with a whey solution containing ca. 1 g L−1 COD. This can be reliably cleaned with average removal efficiencies of 65.8±10.9 %. The removal coincided with maximum current densities of 0.31±0.06 mA cm−2 and Coulomb efficiencies of 37.1±10.8 %. The anodes are based on a robust complex microbial community. This was established in bioelectrochemical reactors by end of four batch cycles showing an efficient niche differentiation from the following successive enrichments. The microbial analysis revealed a division of labour with mainly planktonic microorganisms degrading the complex whey components by fermentation to organic acids, part of which are subsequently used by the electroactive bacteria at the anode. The results show the need for deciphering microbial structure‐function relationships for future process steering as well as engineering approaches.

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Microbial fuel cells—A preferred technology to prevail energy crisis

et al. 2021

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With ever increasing waste production worldwide, the development of newly emerging technologies is rising and advancing proportionately. Entailed instalment of sophisticated energy-producing plants is constantly expanding to meet the socio-economic demands of communities and industries. Innumerable superior technologies have been introduced to minimise waste pollution while reducing emissions of greenhouse gases hence, combatting the impact of global warming. This review shows energy conversion technologies including gasification, pyrolysis, incineration, landfill, and bioelectrochemical technologies mainly microbial fuel cell (MFC), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and microbial electrosynthesis (MES). Traditionally, incineration and landfill are the main mean of waste conversion but not favourable because of their side effects, economic viability, secondary pollution and difficulty in mechanical compression. Recently, biological processes including anaerobic digestion have gained huge interest but possess some inherent drawbacks and cannot provide a comprehensive solution for future waste management. Among energy converting technologies, bio-electrochemical MFC system is highly preferred as an elementary, clean, safe, economically viable and environmentally beneficial technology. MFC a renewable energy technology possesses multidimensional applications of producing electric power and treat wastewater. In addition, the MFCs can be modified into MEC to generate hydrogen energy from various organic matters. Prospective modification recommendations for scale-up application of this technology are also presented.

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Operation and characterization of a microbial fuel cell fed with pretreated cheese whey at different organic loads

Cited by 54 publications

References 30 publications

Anaerobic Degradation of Pure Glycerol for Electricity Generation using a MFC: The Effect of Substrate Concentration

Anaerobic Degradation of Pure Glycerol for Electricity Generation using a MFC: The Effect of Substrate Concentration

Investigating Community Dynamics and Performance During Microbial Electrochemical Degradation of Whey

Microbial fuel cells—A preferred technology to prevail energy crisis

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