Poly(vinyl alcohol) separators improve the coulombic efficiency of activated carbon cathodes in microbial fuel cells

Chen, Guang; Zhang, Fang; Logan, Bruce E.; Hickner, Michael A.

doi:10.1016/j.elecom.2013.05.026

Cited by 32 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 21 publications

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“…PTFEbased AC air cathodes showed similar or slightly higher maximum power densities than CC and pt/C catalysts cathodes. [143,145] However, it is reported that thick biofilms can be formed on the catalyst layer of air cathodes and reduce the performance stability of air cathode in MFCs. [147] In order to inhibit the cathodic microbial growth, Yao et al [147] incorporated enrofloxacin, a broad spectrum fluoroquinolone antibiotic, into the catalyst layer of AC air cathode.…”

Section: Catholyte and Cathodementioning

confidence: 98%

“…AC cathode was made with cold-pressing of AC with a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) binder and pressed onto a nickel or stainless steel mesh. [143][144][145][146] PTFE is a binder which is used in opposition to Nafion (perfluorosulphonate) with Pt and reduced the cost of cathode. PTFEbased AC air cathodes showed similar or slightly higher maximum power densities than CC and pt/C catalysts cathodes.…”

Section: Catholyte and Cathodementioning

confidence: 99%

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Effective factors on the performance of microbial fuel cells in wastewater treatment – a review

Aghababaie

Farhadian

Jeihanipour

et al. 2015

Environmental Technology Reviews

118

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Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a novel technology that can be used for electricity generation during oxidization of the organic substances presented in the substrate. To obtain a desirable performance, it is essential to understand the influential factors on the MFC. Among the numerous factors affecting the MFC performance, substrate, microorganisms and their metabolism, electron transfer mechanism in an anodic chamber, electrodes material and the shape of electrodes, type of membrane, operating conditions such as temperature, pH and salinity, electron acceptor in a cathodic chamber and geometric design of the MFC are considered as the most important factors. Among different substrates, wastewater is a sustainable rich medium which can be treated by MFCs. There are various types of exoelectrogenic bacteria presented in wastewaters which can oxidize organic matter and transfer electrons to the anode without using mediators. Like other microbial systems, optimum pH and temperature enhance the bacterial growth which can improve the MFC performance. Despite the negative effect of salt on microbial growth, higher salinity and ionic strength can increase the conductivity of substrate and therefore enhance MFC performance. Scaling up MFC is a controversial issue which needs a comprehensive understanding of these factors. By using new inexpensive materials for electrodes and membrane for manufacturing MFCs, a more cost-effective design for scalable wastewater treatment and high power generation can be achieved. Furthermore, MFC is a suitable candidate for bioremediation of contaminated groundwater. These factors and their impact on the MFC performance have been reviewed in the present survey.

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Section: Catholyte and Cathodementioning

confidence: 98%

Section: Catholyte and Cathodementioning

confidence: 99%

Effective factors on the performance of microbial fuel cells in wastewater treatment – a review

Aghababaie

Farhadian

Jeihanipour

et al. 2015

Environmental Technology Reviews

118

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…In order to reduce internal resistances of MFCs, and increase electrode packing densities, a separator electrode assembly (SEA) configuration which closely places the electrodes on either side of a separator, has been proposed to minimize electrode spacing . This SEA configuration has improved power production and coulombic efficiencies compared to configurations with more widely spaced electrode (SPA) configurations (Chen et al, 2013;Fan et al, 2007). Improvement in BES performance requires accurate characterization of electrode performance in these different configurations.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reference and counter electrode positions affect electrochemical characterization of bioanodes in different bioelectrochemical systems

Zhang

Liu²,

Ivanov³

et al. 2014

Biotech & Bioengineering

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The placement of the reference electrode (RE) in various bioelectrochemical systems is often varied to accommodate different reactor configurations. While the effect of the RE placement is well understood from a strictly electrochemistry perspective, there are impacts on exoelectrogenic biofilms in engineered systems that have not been adequately addressed. Varying distances between the working electrode (WE) and the RE, or the RE and the counter electrode (CE) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can alter bioanode characteristics. With well-spaced anode and cathode distances in an MFC, increasing the distance between the RE and anode (WE) altered bioanode cyclic voltammograms (CVs) due to the uncompensated ohmic drop. Electrochemical impedance spectra (EIS) also changed with RE distances, resulting in a calculated increase in anode resistance that varied between 17 and 31 V (À0.2 V). While WE potentials could be corrected with ohmic drop compensation during the CV tests, they could not be automatically corrected by the potentiostat in the EIS tests. The electrochemical characteristics of bioanodes were altered by their acclimation to different anode potentials that resulted from varying the distance between the RE and the CE (cathode). These differences were true changes in biofilm characteristics because the CVs were electrochemically independent of conditions resulting from changing CE to RE distances. Placing the RE outside of the current path enabled accurate bioanode characterization using CVs and EIS due to negligible ohmic resistances (0.4 V). It is therefore concluded for bioelectrochemical systems that when possible, the RE should be placed outside the current path and near the WE, as this will result in more accurate representation of bioanode characteristics.

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“…This result is comparable with other MFC reports. 23,24 Generally CE for the unmodified anode is lower than that of modified anode except at the lower current range where high activation overpotential dominates the electrode process. Some balance between CE and P max should be considered when MFCs are to be applied to the real world, however.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Menadione-Modified Anodes for Power Enhancement in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells

Ahmed¹,

Kim

2013

Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society

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As anode fabrication with different materials has been proven to be a successful alternative for enhancing power generation in the microbial fuel cells, a new approach to improved performance of MFCs with the use of menadione/carbon powder composite-modified carbon cloth anode has been explored in this study. Menadione has formal potential to easily accept electrons from the outer membrane cytochromes of electroactive bacteria that can directly interact with the solid surface. Surface bound menadione was able to maintain an electrical wiring with the trans-membrane electron transfer pathways to facilitate extracellular electron transfer to the electrode. In a single chamber air cathode MFC inoculated with aerobic sludge, maximum power density of 1250 ± 35 mWm −2 was achieved, which was 25% higher than that of an unmodified anode. The observed high power density and improved coulomb efficiency of 61% were ascribed to the efficient electron shuttling via the immobilized menadione.

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Poly(vinyl alcohol) separators improve the coulombic efficiency of activated carbon cathodes in microbial fuel cells

Cited by 32 publications

References 21 publications

Effective factors on the performance of microbial fuel cells in wastewater treatment – a review

Effective factors on the performance of microbial fuel cells in wastewater treatment – a review

Reference and counter electrode positions affect electrochemical characterization of bioanodes in different bioelectrochemical systems

Menadione-Modified Anodes for Power Enhancement in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells

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