The practical implementation of microbial fuel cell technology

Ieropoulos, Ioannis; Winfield, Jonathan; Gajda, Iwona; Papaharalabos, George; Merino-Jiménez, Irene; Pasternak, Grzegorz; You, Jiseon; Tremouli, Asimina; Stinchcombe, Andrew; Forbes, Samuel; Greenman, John

doi:10.1016/b978-1-78242-375-1.00012-5

Cited by 15 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…A total of nine MFCs were assembled with similar electrodes and under the same conditions as previously reported [2,45]. Once the MFCs reached a stable and comparable output, the cathode was then changed with the materials of interest.…”

Section: Testing Of Different Cathode Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Urine can be treated in the MFCs whilst generating electricity for low power devices, such as light emitting diode (LED) lights or sensors [2], or to be harvested in capacitors and released to power off-the-shelf electronics, such as mobile phones or robots [3][4][5]. Recent field trials, where a stack of MFCs was directly connected to a urinal, demonstrated the capability of such device to light a room, showing the fast development of this technology [6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Carbon-Based Air-Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cells

et al. 2016

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Abstract:A comparison between different carbon-based gas-diffusion air-breathing cathodes for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is presented in this work. A micro-porous layer (MPL) based on carbon black (CB) and an activated carbon (AC) layer were used as catalysts and applied on different supporting materials, including carbon cloth (CC), carbon felt (CF), and stainless steel (SS) forming cathode electrodes for MFCs treating urine. Rotating ring disk electrode (RRDE) analyses were done on CB and AC to: (i) understand the kinetics of the carbonaceous catalysts; (ii) evaluate the hydrogen peroxide production; and (iii) estimate the electron transfer. CB and AC were then used to fabricate electrodes. Half-cell electrochemical analysis, as well as MFCs continuous power performance, have been monitored. Generally, the current generated was higher from the MFCs with AC electrodes compared to the MPL electrodes, showing an increase between 34% and 61% in power with the AC layer comparing to the MPL. When the MPL was used, the supporting material showed a slight effect in the power performance, being that the CF is more powerful than the CC and the SS. These differences also agree with the electrochemical analysis performed. However, the different supporting materials showed a bigger effect in the power density when the AC layer was used, being the SS the most efficient, with a power generation of 65.6 mW·m −2 , followed by the CC (54 mW·m −2 ) and the CF (44 mW·m −2 ).

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Section: Testing Of Different Cathode Electrodesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-Based Air-Breathing Cathodes for Microbial Fuel Cells

et al. 2016

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“…The first recorded pilot use of MFCs fuelled by urine was in March 2015 at the University of the West of England (UWE, Bristol) where a prototype of the Pee Power was trialled at the university's Frenchay campus ( Figure 9A). [121][122] The prototype urinal was a collaboration between researchers at UWE and Oxfam, who aimed to use the Pee Power technology to light toilets in refugee camps that are often dark and dangerous, particularly for women. The urinal at Frenchay campus resembled toilets used in refugee camps by Oxfam to make the trial as realistic as possible.…”

Section: Pilot-scale Microbial Fuel Cell Treating Urinementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Each tank had a 24.5 L of urine capacity and contained 36 ceramic-based MFCs with air-cathodes as previously described. [121] The MFC stack powered the internal lighting system of the urinal cubicle (4 LED domestic lights), which were triggered by an infrared motion sensor (also powered by the MFCs). The energy produced by the MFCs was stored in supercapacitors and discharged when motion was detected (i. e. a person entering the cubicle).…”

Section: Pilot-scale Microbial Fuel Cell Treating Urinementioning

confidence: 99%

Urine in Bioelectrochemical Systems: An Overall Review

et al. 2020

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In recent years, human urine has been successfully used as an electrolyte and organic substrate in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) mainly due of its unique properties. Urine contains organic compounds that can be utilised as a fuel for energy recovery in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and it has high nutrient concentrations including nitrogen and phosphorous that can be concentrated and recovered in microbial electrosynthesis cells and microbial concentration cells. Moreover, human urine has high solution conductivity, which reduces the ohmic losses of these systems, improving BES output. This review describes the most recent advances in BESs utilising urine. Properties of neat human urine used in state‐of‐the‐art MFCs are described from basic to pilot‐scale and real implementation. Utilisation of urine in other bioelectrochemical systems for nutrient recovery is also discussed including proofs of concept to scale up systems.

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“…Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are systems capable of converting chemical energy into electricity or hydrogen/chemical products [34,35]. A basic configuration of a BES is the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) that generates electrons through the conversion of organic biodegradable compounds by electroactive bacteria [36].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%