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Sriwichai N, Sangcharoen R, Saithong T, Simpson D, Goryanin I, Boonapatcharoen N, Kalapanulak S, Panichnumsin P. Optimization of microbial fuel cell performance application to high sulfide industrial wastewater treatment by modulating microbial function. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305673. [PMID: 38889113 PMCID: PMC11185453 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are innovative eco-friendly technologies that advance a circular economy by enabling the conversion of both organic and inorganic substances in wastewater to electricity. While conceptually promising, there are lingering questions regarding the performance and stability of MFCs in real industrial settings. To address this research gap, we investigated the influence of specific operational settings, regarding the hydraulic retention time (HRT) and organic loading rate (OLR) on the performance of MFCs used for treating sulfide-rich wastewater from a canned pineapple factory. Experiments were performed at varying hydraulic retention times (2 days and 4 days) during both low and high seasonal production. Through optimization, we achieved a current density generation of 47±15 mA/m2, a COD removal efficiency of 91±9%, and a sulfide removal efficiency of 86±10%. Microbiome analysis revealed improved MFC performance when there was a substantial presence of electrogenic bacteria, sulfide-oxidizing bacteria, and methanotrophs, alongside a reduced abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria and methanogens. In conclusion, we recommend the following operational guidelines for applying MFCs in industrial wastewater treatment: (i) Careful selection of the microbial inoculum, as this step significantly influences the composition of the MFC microbial community and its overall performance. (ii) Initiating MFC operation with an appropriate OLR is essential. This helps in establishing an effective and adaptable microbial community within the MFCs, which can be beneficial when facing variations in OLR due to seasonal production changes. (iii) Identifying and maintaining MFC-supporting microbes, including those identified in this study, should be a priority. Keeping these microbes as an integral part of the system's microbial composition throughout the operation enhances and stabilizes MFC performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nattawet Sriwichai
- Center for Agricultural Systems Biology, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Rutrawee Sangcharoen
- Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Treenut Saithong
- Center for Agricultural Systems Biology, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - David Simpson
- Biological Systems Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Igor Goryanin
- Biological Systems Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology, Okinawa, Japan
| | - Nimaradee Boonapatcharoen
- Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Saowalak Kalapanulak
- Center for Agricultural Systems Biology, Pilot Plant Development and Training Institute, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology Program, School of Bioresources and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi (Bang Khun Thian), Bangkok, Thailand
| | - Pornpan Panichnumsin
- Excellent Center of Waste Utilization and Management, National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, National Sciences and Technology Development Agency at King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
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Li C, Liang D, Tian Y, Liu S, He W, Li Z, Yadav RS, Ma Y, Ji C, Yi K, Yang W, Feng Y. Sorting Out the Latest Advances in Separators and Pilot-Scale Microbial Electrochemical Systems for Wastewater Treatment: Concomitant Development, Practical Application, and Future Perspective. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:9471-9486. [PMID: 38776077 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c03169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024]
Abstract
To date, dozens of pilot-scale microbial fuel cell (MFC) devices have been successfully developed worldwide for treating various types of wastewater. The availability and configurations of separators are determining factors for the economic feasibility, efficiency, sustainability, and operability of these devices. Thus, the concomitant advances between the separators and pilot-scale MFC configurations deserve further clarification. The analysis of separator configurations has shown that their evolution proceeds as follows: from ion-selective to ion-non-selective, from nonpermeable to permeable, and from abiotic to biotic. Meanwhile, their cost is decreasing and their availability is increasing. Notably, the novel MFCs configured with biotic separators are superior to those configured with abiotic separators in terms of wastewater treatment efficiency and capital cost. Herein, a highly comprehensive review of pilot-scale MFCs (>100 L) has been conducted, and we conclude that the intensive stack of the liquid cathode configuration is more advantageous when wastewater treatment is the highest priority. The use of permeable biotic separators ensures hydrodynamic continuity within the MFCs and simplifies reactor configuration and operation. In addition, a systemic comparison is conducted between pilot-scale MFC devices and conventional decentralized wastewater treatment processes. MFCs showed comparable cost, higher efficiency, long-term stability, and significant superiority in carbon emission reduction. The development of separators has greatly contributed to the availability and usability of MFCs, which will play an important role in various wastewater treatment scenarios in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Li
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Dandan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Yan Tian
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Shujuan Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Weihua He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Zeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Ravi Shankar Yadav
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
| | - Yamei Ma
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Chengcheng Ji
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Kexin Yi
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Wulin Yang
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Peking University, No. 5 Yiheyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100871, P. R. China
| | - Yujie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, No. 73 Huanghe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, P. R. China
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Ma J, Wang L, Zhang Y, Jia J. Fabrication of a Molybdenum Dioxide/Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes Nanocomposite as an Anodic Modification Material for High-Performance Microbial Fuel Cells. Molecules 2024; 29:2541. [PMID: 38893417 PMCID: PMC11173943 DOI: 10.3390/molecules29112541] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2024] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
A nanocomposite of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) decorated with molybdenum dioxide (MoO2) nanoparticles is fabricated through the reduction of phosphomolybdic acid hydrate on functionalized MWCNTs in a hydrogen-argon (10%) atmosphere in a tube furnace. The MoO2/MWCNTs composite is proposed as an anodic modification material for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MWCNTs have outstanding physical and chemical peculiarities, with functionalized MWCNTs having substantially large electroactive areas. In addition, combined with the exceptional properties of MoO2 nanoparticles, the synergistic advantages of functionalized MWCNTs and MoO2 nanoparticles give a MoO2/MWCNTs anode a large electroactive area, excellent electronic conductivity, enhanced extracellular electron transfer capacity, and improved nutrient transfer capability. Finally, the power harvesting of an MFC with the MoO2/MWCNTs anode is improved, with the MFC showing long-term repeatability of voltage and current density outputs. This exploratory research advances the fundamental application of anodic modification to MFCs, simultaneously providing valuable guidance for the use of carbon-based transition metal oxide nanomaterials in high-performance MFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianchun Ma
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, Lyuliang University, Lishi 033001, China;
- Institute of New Carbon-Based Materials and Zero-Carbon and Negative-Carbon Technology, Lyuliang University, Lishi 033001, China
| | - Lifang Wang
- Department of Chemical and Material Engineering, Lyuliang University, Lishi 033001, China;
- Institute of New Carbon-Based Materials and Zero-Carbon and Negative-Carbon Technology, Lyuliang University, Lishi 033001, China
| | - Yezhen Zhang
- College of Chemistry and Pharmacy Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang 473061, China;
| | - Jianfeng Jia
- Key Laboratory of Magnetic Molecules and Magnetic Information Materials of Ministry of Education, School of Chemistry and Materials Science, Shanxi Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China
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Durna Pişkin E, Genç N. Multi response optimization of waste activated sludge oxidation and azo dye reduction in microbial fuel cell. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2024; 45:2599-2611. [PMID: 36762521 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2023.2179422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cell technology draws attention with its ability to directly recover electrical energy from various organic materials. In this study, the operating conditions affecting the oxidation-reduction and electricity generation efficiency of MFC were optimized using the Taguchi Experimental Design model. Optimization was carried out for maximum power density, coulombic efficiency, azo dye removal, and COD removal. With the determined optimum conditions (cathode pH of 3.0, cathode oxygen status of anaerobic, anode substrate of pre-treated, external resistance of 100 Ω, cathode electrode type of plain carbon, cathode electrode surface of 22 cm2, cathode conductivity of 20 µs/cm), 177.03 mW/m2 power density, 7.50% coulombic efficiency, 91.26% azo dye removal efficiency and 21.61% COD removal efficiency were obtained. By Pareto analysis, it was determined that the power density, coulombic efficiency and COD removal efficiency were most affected by the substrate type at the anode, and the azo dye removal was most affected by the catholyte pH. The maximum power density and internal resistance of the MFC operated under optimum conditions were determined as 145.11 mW/m2 and 243.30 Ω, respectively by the polarization curve. Cyclic voltammetry was also performed for the electrochemical characterization of MFC operated under optimum conditions. An anodic peak at -183.2 mV and a cathodic peak at -181.2 mV was visible in the CV curve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Durna Pişkin
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
| | - Nevim Genç
- Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Kocaeli University, Kocaeli, Turkey
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Ahmad A, Senaidi AS, Reddy SS. Electrochemical process for petroleum refinery wastewater treatment to produce power and hydrogen using microbial electrolysis cell. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2023; 21:485-496. [PMID: 37869594 PMCID: PMC10584772 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-023-00874-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2023] [Indexed: 10/24/2023]
Abstract
This research aims to assess the microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) fed with petroleum refinery wastewater (PRW) to produce power density and bio-electrochemical hydrogen. The MEC produces a maximum bio-electricity of 21.4 mA and a power density of 1200123.90 W/m2 with a loading of chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 17000 mg/L. Due to catalyzed oxidation of complex compounds in PRW with a maintained microbial biofilm growth was observed after 90 d of operation of MEC. Results showed that the oxidation of organic substances in PRW enhanced the size in the growth of microbial film which further increased the generation of electrons leading to current density of 5890 mA/m2. The COD removal efficiency of MEC was found to be 89.9%. The bio-electricity and hydrogen production of the MEC was estimated to be 24.5 mA and 19.2 L respectively when loaded with PRW having a COD of 17500 mg/L after 130 d. Present experiments demonstrate the efficiency of MEC technology efficiency in treating petroleum wastewater with the help of microbial biofilm.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anwar Ahmad
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, PO 33, Nizwa City, 616 Oman
| | - Alaya Said Senaidi
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, PO 33, Nizwa City, 616 Oman
| | - Sajjala Sreedhar Reddy
- Civil and Environmental Engineering Department, College of Engineering and Architecture, University of Nizwa, PO 33, Nizwa City, 616 Oman
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Massaglia G, Spisni G, Pirri CF, Quaglio M. Microbial Fuel Cells as Effective Tools for Energy Recovery and Antibiotic Detection in Water and Food. MICROMACHINES 2023; 14:2137. [PMID: 38138306 PMCID: PMC10745599 DOI: 10.3390/mi14122137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/20/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
This work demonstrates that microbial fuel cells (MFCs), optimized for energy recovery, can be used as an effective tool to detect antibiotics in water-based environments. In MFCs, electroactive biofilms function as biocatalysts by converting the chemical energy of organic matter, which serves as the fuel, into electrical energy. The efficiency of the conversion process can be significantly affected by the presence of contaminants that act as toxicants to the biofilm. The present work demonstrates that MFCs can successfully detect antibiotic residues in water and water-based electrolytes containing complex carbon sources that may be associated with the food industry. Specifically, honey was selected as a model fuel to test the effectiveness of MFCs in detecting antibiotic contamination, and tetracycline was used as a reference antibiotic within this study. The results show that MFCs not only efficiently detect the presence of tetracycline in both acetate and honey-based electrolytes but also recover the same performance after each exposure cycle, proving to be a very robust and reliable technology for both biosensing and energy recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Massaglia
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; (G.S.); (C.F.P.)
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies@Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Environment Park, Building B2 Via Livorno 60, 10144 Torino, Italy
| | - Giacomo Spisni
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; (G.S.); (C.F.P.)
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies@Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Environment Park, Building B2 Via Livorno 60, 10144 Torino, Italy
| | - Candido F. Pirri
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; (G.S.); (C.F.P.)
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies@Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Environment Park, Building B2 Via Livorno 60, 10144 Torino, Italy
| | - Marzia Quaglio
- Department of Applied Science and Technology (DISAT), Politecnico di Torino, Corso Duca degli Abruzzi 24, 10129 Torino, Italy; (G.S.); (C.F.P.)
- Center for Sustainable Future Technologies@Polito, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Environment Park, Building B2 Via Livorno 60, 10144 Torino, Italy
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Mullai P, Vishali S, Sambavi SM, Dharmalingam K, Yogeswari MK, Vadivel Raja VC, Bharathiraja B, Bayar B, Abubackar HN, Al Noman MA, Rene ER. Energy generation from bioelectrochemical techniques: Concepts, reactor configurations and modeling approaches. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 342:139950. [PMID: 37648163 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.139950] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Revised: 08/18/2023] [Accepted: 08/22/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
The process industries play a significant role in boosting the economy of any nation. However, poor management in several industries has been posing worrisome threats to an environment that was previously immaculate. As a result, the untreated waste and wastewater discarded by many industries contain abundant organic matter and other toxic chemicals. It is more likely that they disrupt the proper functioning of the water bodies by perturbing the sustenance of many species of flora and fauna occupying the different trophic levels. The simultaneous threats to human health and the environment, as well as the global energy problem, have encouraged a number of nations to work on the development of renewable energy sources. Hence, bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) have attracted the attention of several stakeholders throughout the world on many counts. The bioelectricity generated from BESs has been recognized as a clean fuel. Besides, this technology has advantages such as the direct conversion of substrate to electricity, and efficient operation at ambient and even low temperatures. An overview of the BESs, its important operating parameters, bioremediation of industrial waste and wastewaters, biodegradation kinetics, and artificial neural network (ANN) modeling to describe substrate removal/elimination and energy production of the BESs are discussed. When considering the potential for use in the industrial sector, certain technical issues of BES design and the principal microorganisms/biocatalysts involved in the degradation of waste are also highlighted in this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- P Mullai
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - S Vishali
- Department of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Engineering, Kattankulathur, 603 203, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - S M Sambavi
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Energy Engineering with Industrial Management, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| | - K Dharmalingam
- Department of Biotechnology, Chaitanya Bharathi Institute of Technology, Gandipet, Hyderabad, Telangana, India.
| | - M K Yogeswari
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - V C Vadivel Raja
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, Annamalai University, Annamalai Nagar, 608 002, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - B Bharathiraja
- Vel Tech High Tech Dr. Rangarajan Dr.Sakunthala Engineering College, Chennai, 600062, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Büşra Bayar
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República (EAN), 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Haris Nalakath Abubackar
- Instituto de Tecnologia Química e Biológica António Xavier, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Avenida da República (EAN), 2780-157 Oeiras, Portugal.
| | - Md Abdullah Al Noman
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX, Delft, the Netherlands.
| | - Eldon R Rene
- Department of Water Supply, Sanitation and Environmental Engineering, IHE Delft Institute for Water Education, Westvest 7, 2611AX, Delft, the Netherlands.
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Gupta S, Patro A, Mittal Y, Dwivedi S, Saket P, Panja R, Saeed T, Martínez F, Yadav AK. The race between classical microbial fuel cells, sediment-microbial fuel cells, plant-microbial fuel cells, and constructed wetlands-microbial fuel cells: Applications and technology readiness level. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 879:162757. [PMID: 36931518 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.162757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2023] [Revised: 03/05/2023] [Accepted: 03/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an interesting technology capable of converting the chemical energy stored in organics to electricity. It has raised high hopes among researchers and end users as the world continues to face climate change, water, energy, and land crisis. This review aims to discuss the journey of continuously progressing MFC technology from the lab to the field so far. It evaluates the historical development of MFC, and the emergence of different variants of MFC or MFC-associated other technologies such as sediment-microbial fuel cell (S-MFC), plant-microbial fuel cell (P-MFC), and integrated constructed wetlands-microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC). This review has assessed primary applications and challenges to overcome existing limitations for commercialization of these technologies. In addition, it further illustrates the design and potential applications of S-MFC, P-MFC, and CW-MFC. Lastly, the maturity and readiness of MFC, S-MFC, P-MFC, and CW-MFC for real-world implementation were assessed by multicriteria-based assessment. Wastewater treatment efficiency, bioelectricity generation efficiency, energy demand, cost investment, and scale-up potential were mainly considered as key criteria. Other sustainability criteria, such as life cycle and environmental impact assessments were also evaluated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Supriya Gupta
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha, India
| | - Ashmita Patro
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha, India
| | - Yamini Mittal
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha, India
| | - Saurabh Dwivedi
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha, India
| | - Palak Saket
- Department of Biosciences and Biomedical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Indore, Indore- 453552, India
| | - Rupobrata Panja
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha, India
| | - Tanveer Saeed
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Asia Pacific, Dhaka 1205, Bangladesh
| | - Fernando Martínez
- Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Móstoles 28933, Madrid, Spain
| | - Asheesh Kumar Yadav
- Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India; CSIR-Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology, Bhubaneswar 751013, Odisha, India; Department of Chemical and Environmental Technology, Rey Juan Carlos University, Móstoles 28933, Madrid, Spain.
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9
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Maureira D, Romero O, Illanes A, Wilson L, Ottone C. Industrial bioelectrochemistry for waste valorization: State of the art and challenges. Biotechnol Adv 2023; 64:108123. [PMID: 36868391 DOI: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2023.108123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 02/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/05/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemistry has gained importance in recent years for some of its applications on waste valorization, such as wastewater treatment and carbon dioxide conversion, among others. The aim of this review is to provide an updated overview of the applications of bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) for waste valorization in the industry, identifying current limitations and future perspectives of this technology. BESs are classified according to biorefinery concepts into three different categories: (i) waste to power, (ii) waste to fuel and (iii) waste to chemicals. The main issues related to the scalability of bioelectrochemical systems are discussed, such as electrode construction, the addition of redox mediators and the design parameters of the cells. Among the existing BESs, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) stand out as the more advanced technologies in terms of implementation and R&D investment. However, there has been little transfer of such achievements to enzymatic electrochemical systems. It is necessary that enzymatic systems learn from the knowledge reached with MFC and MEC to accelerate their development to achieve competitiveness in the short term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Maureira
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Oscar Romero
- Bioprocess Engineering and Applied Biocatalysis Group, Departament of Chemical, Biological and Enviromental Engineering, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, 08193, Spain.
| | - Andrés Illanes
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Lorena Wilson
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile
| | - Carminna Ottone
- School of Biochemical Engineering, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Valparaíso, Avenida Brasil 2085, Valparaíso, Chile.
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Heinrichmeier J, Littfinski T, Vasyukova E, Steuernagel L, Wichern M. On-site performance evaluation of a 1,000-litre microbial fuel cell system using submergible multi-electrode modules with air-cathodes for sustainable municipal wastewater treatment and electricity generation. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 87:1969-1981. [PMID: 37119167 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
The reliability of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system was tested on an industrial scale by operating a 1,000-L single-chamber system under real conditions at a municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) over a 6-month period. Submergible multi-electrode modules with large-scale grid-segmented gas diffusion cathodes with activated carbon as a catalyst were used. Maximum power densities normalised to the cathode area were above 100 mW m-2Cat. Fluctuating chemical and physical wastewater characteristics of the influent had reversible effects on MFC performance in terms of energetic efficiency. Thereby, the composition of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) fractions changes only insignificantly and the concentration of readily biodegradable (SS) required for the enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) process or upstream denitrification was reduced by 41 ± 10 mg L-1 (37 ± 2% of inflow SS).
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Affiliation(s)
- J Heinrichmeier
- WTE Wassertechnik GmbH, Ruhrallee 185, 45136 Essen, Germany E-mail:
| | - Tobias Littfinski
- WTE Wassertechnik GmbH, Ruhrallee 185, 45136 Essen, Germany E-mail: ; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
| | | | - Leon Steuernagel
- WTE Wassertechnik GmbH, Ruhrallee 185, 45136 Essen, Germany E-mail:
| | - Marc Wichern
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Institute of Urban Water Management and Environmental Engineering, Ruhr-Universität Bochum, Universitätsstraße 150, 44780 Bochum, Germany
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11
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Suransh J, Jadhav DA, Nguyen DD, Mungray AK. Scalable architecture of low-cost household microbial fuel cell for domestic wastewater treatment and simultaneous energy recovery. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 857:159671. [PMID: 36280066 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.159671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 10/05/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Researchers are still trying to achieve desirable results while treating actual wastewater at the field size when scaling up a microbial fuel cell (MFC). This pilot-scale project aimed to create a decentralised system for treating domestic wastewater and concurrent energy generation that may be used as a model for the decentralisation process. In this investigation, a cylindrical-shaped earthen membrane was utilized. The arrangement was deployed on-site at a residence for the treatment of domestic wastewater as well as simultaneous generation of power. From August until November 2021, the 36 L pilot-scale setup was operational for a period of 92 days. The setup's performance was affected by seasonal temperature variations during the operation period. The system's performance was measured in terms of COD, nitrate, and NH3-N removal, with the highest results being 93.52 %, 84.93 %, and 74.78 %, respectively. The pilot-scale setup achieved the highest current of 43.7 mA, and the output voltage of the setup was boosted to 4.1 V using a power management system. The sustainable operation of pilot household MFC showed a positive indication for field application with a low-cost solution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jain Suransh
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat 395007, Gujarat, India
| | - Dipak A Jadhav
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Ocean Science and Engineering, Korea Maritime and Ocean University, Busan 49112, Republic of Korea
| | - D Duc Nguyen
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Arvind Kumar Mungray
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology, Surat 395007, Gujarat, India.
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12
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Rossi R, Logan BE. Impact of reactor configuration on pilot-scale microbial fuel cell performance. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 225:119179. [PMID: 36206685 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.119179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Different microbial fuel cell (MFC) configurations have been successfully operated at pilot-scale levels (>100 L) to demonstrate electricity generation while accomplishing domestic or industrial wastewater treatment. Two cathode configurations have been primarily used based on either oxygen transfer by aeration of a liquid catholyte or direct oxygen transfer using air-cathodes. Analysis of several pilot-scale MFCs showed that air-cathode MFCs outperformed liquid catholyte reactors based on power density, producing 233% larger area-normalized power densities and 181% higher volumetric power densities. Reactors with higher electrode packing densities improved performance by enabling larger power production while minimizing the reactor footprint. Despite producing more power than the liquid catholyte MFCs, and reducing energy consumption for catholyte aeration, pilot MFCs based on air-cathode configuration failed to produce effluents with chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels low enough to meet typical threshold for discharge. Therefore, additional treatment would be required to further reduce the organic matter in the effluent to levels suitable for discharge. Scaling up MFCs must incorporate designs that can minimize electrode and solution resistances to maximize power and enable efficient wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruggero Rossi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
| | - Bruce E Logan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
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13
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Organic Waste Substrates for Bioenergy Production via Microbial Fuel Cells: A Key Point Review. ENERGIES 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/en15155616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/07/2022]
Abstract
High-energy consumption globally has raised questions about the low environmentally friendly and high-cost processes used until now for energy production. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) may support alternative more economically and environmentally favorable ways of bioenergy production based on their advantage of using waste. MFCs work as bio-electrochemical devices that consume organic substrates in order for the electrogenic bacteria and/or enzyme cultures to produce electricity and simultaneously lower the environmental hazardous value of waste such as COD. The utilization of organic waste as fuels in MFCs has opened a new research path for testing a variety of by-products from several industry sectors. This review presents several organic waste substrates that can be employed as fuels in MFCs for bioenergy generation and the effect of their usage on power density, COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal, and Coulombic efficiency enhancement. Moreover, a demonstration and comparison of the different types of mixed waste regarding their efficiency for energy generation via MFCs are presented. Future perspectives for manufacturing and cost analysis plans can support scale-up processes fulfilling waste-treatment efficiency and energy-output densities.
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14
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Babanova S, Jones J, Wiseman K, Soles J, Garcia J, Huerta P, Barocio D, Naito R, Arreola O, Garcia G, Bretschger O. Bioelectrochemical Treatment Technology—The New Practical Approach for Wastewater Management and GHG Emissions Reduction. FRONTIERS IN CHEMICAL ENGINEERING 2022. [DOI: 10.3389/fceng.2022.832505] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study presents BioElectrochemical Treatment Technology (BETT) as a new wastewater management solution toward the Net-Zero future. The results reported herein were collected from a BETT pilot system installed at a large brewery in Los Angeles, CA, United States processing 0.6 m3. day-1 of raw brewery wastewater with a high content of fruit pulp. Removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Suspended Solids (TSS) and protein in mg.L-1 per day or percentage were evaluated over 2 months of continuous operation of the Demo Unit. The GHG emissions associated with the power consumed, biomass produced, and carbon dioxide emitted were estimated and compared to aerobic and anaerobic solutions. It was demonstrated that BETT can process wastewater with higher organic load than most conventional anaerobic systems. The inflow COD loading varied between 48,550 mg/L to 116,200 mg/L, and BETT achieved up to 33% COD removal in 4-h HRT. The TSS removal reached values as high as 79% with incoming TSS concentrations up to 34,000 mg/L TSS. BETT did not directly generate methane and demonstrated 89 and 49% lower landfill methane emissions than aerobic and anaerobic technologies, respectively. The overall reduction in CO2 emissions, both direct and indirect, was estimated to be 85–90% compared to existing practices.
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15
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Rossi R, Hur AY, Page MA, Thomas AO, Butkiewicz JJ, Jones DW, Baek G, Saikaly PE, Cropek DM, Logan BE. Pilot scale microbial fuel cells using air cathodes for producing electricity while treating wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 215:118208. [PMID: 35255425 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2021] [Revised: 10/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/15/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can generate electrical energy from the oxidation of the organic matter, but they must be demonstrated at large scales, treat real wastewaters, and show the required performance needed at a site to provide a path forward for this technology. Previous pilot-scale studies of MFC technology have relied on systems with aerated catholytes, which limited energy recovery due to the energy consumed by pumping air into the catholyte. In the present study, we developed, deployed, and tested an 850 L (1400 L total liquid volume) air-cathode MFC treating domestic-type wastewater at a centralized wastewater treatment facility. The wastewater was processed over a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12 h through a sequence of 17 brush anode modules (11 m2 total projected anode area) and 16 cathode modules, each constructed using two air-cathodes (0.6 m2 each, total cathode area of 20 m2) with the air side facing each other to allow passive air flow. The MFC effluent was further treated in a biofilter (BF) to decrease the organic matter content. The field test was conducted for over six months to fully characterize the electrochemical and wastewater treatment performance. Wastewater quality as well as electrical energy production were routinely monitored. The power produced over six months by the MFC averaged 0.46 ± 0.35 W (0.043 W m-2 normalized to the cross-sectional area of an anode) at a current of 1.54 ± 0.90 A with a coulombic efficiency of 9%. Approximately 49 ± 15 % of the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was removed in the MFC alone as well as a large amount of the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) (70%) and total suspended solid (TSS) (48%). In the combined MFC/BF process, up to 91 ± 6 % of the COD and 91 % of the BOD5 were removed as well as certain bacteria (E. coli, 98.9%; fecal coliforms, 99.1%). The average effluent concentration of nitrate was 1.6 ± 2.4 mg L-1, nitrite was 0.17 ± 0.24 mg L-1 and ammonia was 0.4 ± 1.0 mg L-1. The pilot scale reactor presented here is the largest air-cathode MFC ever tested, generating electrical power while treating wastewater.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ruggero Rossi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Andy Y Hur
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, IL 61822, USA
| | - Martin A Page
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, IL 61822, USA.
| | | | | | - David W Jones
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Gahyun Baek
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA
| | - Pascal E Saikaly
- Environmental Science and Engineering Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia; Water Desalination and Reuse Center, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
| | - Donald M Cropek
- U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Engineer Research and Development Center, Construction Engineering Research Laboratory, Champaign, IL 61822, USA
| | - Bruce E Logan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, The Pennsylvania State University, University Park, PA 16802, USA.
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16
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Greenman J, Gajda I, You J, Mendis BA, Obata O, Pasternak G, Ieropoulos I. Microbial fuel cells and their electrified biofilms. Biofilm 2021; 3:100057. [PMID: 34729468 PMCID: PMC8543385 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioflm.2021.100057] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 07/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) represent a wide range of different biofilm-based bioreactors that includes microbial fuel cells (MFCs), microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) and microbial desalination cells (MDCs). The first described bioelectrical bioreactor is the Microbial Fuel Cell and with the exception of MDCs, it is the only type of BES that actually produces harvestable amounts of electricity, rather than requiring an electrical input to function. For these reasons, this review article, with previously unpublished supporting data, focusses primarily on MFCs. Of relevance is the architecture of these bioreactors, the type of membrane they employ (if any) for separating the chambers along with the size, as well as the geometry and material composition of the electrodes which support biofilms. Finally, the structure, properties and growth rate of the microbial biofilms colonising anodic electrodes, are of critical importance for rendering these devices, functional living 'engines' for a wide range of applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Greenman
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Iwona Gajda
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Jiseon You
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Buddhi Arjuna Mendis
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Oluwatosin Obata
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
| | | | - Ioannis Ieropoulos
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, BRL, University of the West of England, Frenchay Campus, BS16 1QY, UK
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17
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Cabrera J, Irfan M, Dai Y, Zhang P, Zong Y, Liu X. Bioelectrochemical system as an innovative technology for treatment of produced water from oil and gas industry: A review. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 285:131428. [PMID: 34237499 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2021] [Revised: 06/26/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Disposal of the high volume of produced water (PW) is a big challenge to the oil and gas industry. High cost of conventional treatment facilities, increasing energy prices and environmental concern had focused governments and the industry itself on more efficient treatment methods. Bioelectrochemical system (BES) has attracted the attention of researchers because it represents a sustainable way to treat wastewater. This is the first review that summarizes the progress done in PW-fed BESs with a critical analysis of the parameters that influence their performances. Inoculum, temperature, hydraulic retention time, external resistance, and the use of real or synthetic produced water were found to be deeply related to the performance of BES. Microbial fuel cells are the most analyzed BES in this field followed by different types of microbial desalination cells. High concentration of sulfates in PW suggests that most of hydrocarbons are removed mainly by using sulfates as terminal electron acceptor (TEA), but other TEAs such as nitrate or metals can also be employed. The use of real PW as feed in experiments is highly recommended because biofilms when using synthetic PW are not the same. This review is believed to be helpful in guiding the research directions on the use of BES for PW treatment, and to speed up the practical application of BES technology in oil and gas industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonnathan Cabrera
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, PR China
| | - Muhammad Irfan
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, PR China
| | - Yexin Dai
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, PR China
| | - Pingping Zhang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Tianjin Agricultural University, Tianjin, 300384, PR China
| | - Yanping Zong
- Tianjin Marine Environmental Center Station, Ministry of Natural Resources, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Xianhua Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300354, PR China.
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18
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Çek N, Erensoy A, Ak N, Uslu H. High power microbial fuel cell operating at low temperature using cow dung waste. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL REACTOR ENGINEERING 2021. [DOI: 10.1515/ijcre-2021-0150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Moving towards green technology, alternatives to current detrimental, unsustainable, and expensive energy applications for eco-friendly energy are attracting great attention. Resource recycling and the convenient treatment of animal waste to diminish its nature impact are recently momentous subjects. Microbial fuel cells used cow waste have remarkable potential in electrical energy generation for clean, renewable and sustainable operation. In this study, double-chambered MFC was manufactured using cow manure as raw material at the anode chamber, graphite as the anode and cathode electrodes, fountain water in the cathode chamber, and proton exchange membrane. Because bacteria a catalytic reaction for the latent chemical energy of the cow manure was effectuated as a result of this, MFCs produced electricity. Electricity production performance of this MFC at low temperature (0–10 °C) conditions was examined. This MFC produced a maximum of 204.9 ± 0.1 mV open circuit voltage and 57.387 mW/m2 power density under low temperature conditions. In particular, the sustainability and applicability of MFCs have been increased thanks to this operation done at low temperatures (0–10 °C).
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Affiliation(s)
- Nurettin Çek
- Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering , Institute of Science, Mersin University , Mersin , Turkey
| | - Ahmet Erensoy
- Department of Parasitology , Faculty of Medicine, Fırat University , Elazığ , Turkey
| | - Namık Ak
- Department of Energy Systems Enginnering , Faculty of Engineering, Karamanoglu Mehmetbey University , Karaman , Turkey
| | - Hasan Uslu
- Department of Food Engineering , Faculty of Engineering, Niğde Ömer Halisdemir University , Niğde , Turkey
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19
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Agricultural Waste and Wastewater as Feedstock for Bioelectricity Generation Using Microbial Fuel Cells: Recent Advances. FERMENTATION 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/fermentation7030169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, there has been a significant accumulation of waste in the environment, and it is expected that this accumulation may increase in the years to come. Waste disposal has massive effects on the environment and can cause serious environmental problems. Thus, the development of a waste treatment system is of major importance. Agro-industrial wastewater and waste residues are mainly rich in organic substances, lignocellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, and they have a relatively high amount of energy. As a result, an effective agro-waste treatment system has several benefits, including energy recovery and waste stabilization. To reduce the impact of the consumption of fossil energy sources on our planet, the exploitation of renewable sources has been relaunched. All over the world, efforts have been made to recover energy from agricultural waste, considering global energy security as the final goal. To attain this objective, several technologies and recovery methods have been developed in recent years. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is one of them. This review describes the power generation using various types of agro-industrial wastewaters and agricultural residues utilizing MFC. It also highlights the techno-economics and lifecycle assessment of MFC, its commercialization, along with challenges.
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20
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Gajda I, You J, Mendis BA, Greenman J, Ieropoulos IA. Electrosynthesis, modulation, and self-driven electroseparation in microbial fuel cells. iScience 2021; 24:102805. [PMID: 34471855 PMCID: PMC8390849 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2021.102805] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) represents a sustainable platform that converts waste into resources, using microorganisms within an electrochemical cell. Traditionally, MES refers to the oxidation/reduction of a reactant at the electrode surface with externally applied potential bias. However, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) generate electrons that can drive electrochemical reactions at otherwise unbiased electrodes. Electrosynthesis in MFCs is driven by microbial oxidation of organic matter releasing electrons that force the migration of cationic species to the cathode. Here, we explore how electrosynthesis can coexist within electricity-producing MFCs thanks to electro-separation of cations, electroosmotic drag, and oxygen reduction within appropriately designed systems. More importantly, we report on a novel method of in situ modulation for electrosynthesis, through additional “pin” electrodes. Several MFC electrosynthesis modulating methods that adjust the electrode potential of each half-cell through the pin electrodes are presented. The innovative concept of electrosynthesis within the electricity producing MFCs provides a multidisciplinary platform converting waste-to-resources in a self-sustainable way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iwona Gajda
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Jiseon You
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Buddhi Arjuna Mendis
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - John Greenman
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
| | - Ioannis A Ieropoulos
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, T-Block, Frenchay Campus, University of the West of England (UWE Bristol), Bristol BS16 1QY, UK
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21
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Microbial Fuel Cell for Energy Production, Nutrient Removal and Recovery from Wastewater: A Review. Processes (Basel) 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/pr9081318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The world is facing serious threats from the depletion of non-renewable energy resources, freshwater shortages and food scarcity. As the world population grows, the demand for fresh water, energy, and food will increase, and the need for treating and recycling wastewater will rise. In the past decade, wastewater has been recognized as a resource as it primarily consists of water, energy-latent organics and nutrients. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) have attracted considerable attention due to their versatility in their applications in wastewater treatment, power generation, toxic pollutant removal, environmental monitoring sensors, and more. This article provides a review of MFC technologies applied to the removal and/or recovery of nutrients (such as P and N), organics (COD), and bioenergy (as electricity) from various wastewaters. This review aims to provide the current perspective on MFCs, focusing on the recent advancements in the areas of nutrient removal and/or recovery with simultaneous power generation.
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22
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Santoro C, Babanova S, Cristiani P, Artyushkova K, Atanassov P, Bergel A, Bretschger O, Brown RK, Carpenter K, Colombo A, Cortese R, Erable B, Harnisch F, Kodali M, Phadke S, Riedl S, Rosa LFM, Schröder U. How Comparable are Microbial Electrochemical Systems around the Globe? An Electrochemical and Microbiological Cross-Laboratory Study. CHEMSUSCHEM 2021; 14:2313-2330. [PMID: 33755321 PMCID: PMC8252665 DOI: 10.1002/cssc.202100294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2021] [Revised: 03/20/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
A cross-laboratory study on microbial fuel cells (MFC) which involved different institutions around the world is presented. The study aims to assess the development of autochthone microbial pools enriched from domestic wastewater, cultivated in identical single-chamber MFCs, operated in the same way, thereby approaching the idea of developing common standards for MFCs. The MFCs are inoculated with domestic wastewater in different geographic locations. The acclimation stage and, consequently, the startup time are longer or shorter depending on the inoculum, but all MFCs reach similar maximum power outputs (55±22 μW cm-2 ) and COD removal efficiencies (87±9 %), despite the diversity of the bacterial communities. It is inferred that the MFC performance starts when the syntrophic interaction of fermentative and electrogenic bacteria stabilizes under anaerobic conditions at the anode. The generated power is mostly limited by electrolytic conductivity, electrode overpotentials, and an unbalanced external resistance. The enriched microbial consortia, although composed of different bacterial groups, share similar functions both on the anode and the cathode of the different MFCs, resulting in similar electrochemical output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlo Santoro
- Department of Material ScienceUniversity of Milan BicoccaU5 Via Cozzi 55Milan20125Italy
| | - Sofia Babanova
- Aquacycl LLC2180 Chablis Court, Suite 102EscondidoCA 92029USA
| | - Pierangela Cristiani
- Department of Sustainable Development and Energy ResourcesRicerca sul Sistema Energetico S.p.A.Via Rubattino 54Milan20134Italy
| | | | - Plamen Atanassov
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC)University of CaliforniaIrvineCA 92697USA
| | - Alain Bergel
- Laboratoire de Génie ChimiqueUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS-INPT-UPS4 allée Emile Monso31432ToulouseFrance
| | | | - Robert K. Brown
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable ChemistryTechnische Universität BraunschweigHagenring 3038106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Kayla Carpenter
- J. Craig Venter Institute4120 Capricorn LaneLa JollaCA 92037USA
| | - Alessandra Colombo
- Department of ChemistryUniversità degli Studi di MilanoVia Golgi 19Milan20133Italy
| | - Rachel Cortese
- J. Craig Venter Institute4120 Capricorn LaneLa JollaCA 92037USA
| | - Benjamin Erable
- Laboratoire de Génie ChimiqueUniversité de Toulouse, CNRS-INPT-UPS4 allée Emile Monso31432ToulouseFrance
| | - Falk Harnisch
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyHelmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Mounika Kodali
- Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering National Fuel Cell Research Center (NFCRC)University of CaliforniaIrvineCA 92697USA
| | - Sujal Phadke
- J. Craig Venter Institute4120 Capricorn LaneLa JollaCA 92037USA
| | - Sebastian Riedl
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable ChemistryTechnische Universität BraunschweigHagenring 3038106BraunschweigGermany
| | - Luis F. M. Rosa
- Department of Environmental MicrobiologyHelmholtz-Centre for Environmental Research – UFZPermoserstr. 1504318LeipzigGermany
| | - Uwe Schröder
- Institute of Environmental and Sustainable ChemistryTechnische Universität BraunschweigHagenring 3038106BraunschweigGermany
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23
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Abstract
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has attracted a great amount of attention due to its potential for organic and inorganic waste treatment concomitant with power generation. It is thus seen as a clean energy alternative. Modifications and innovations have been conducted on standalone and hybrid/coupled MFC systems to improve the power output to meet the end goal, namely, commercialization and implementation into existing wastewater treatment plants. As the energy generated is inversely proportional to the size of the reactor, the stacking method has been proven to boost the power output from MFC. In recent years, stacked or scale-up MFCs have also been used as a power source to provide off-grid energy, as well as for in situ assessments. These scale-up studies, however, encountered various challenges, such as cell voltage reversal. This review paper explores recent scale-up studies, identifies trends and challenges, and provides a framework for current and future research.
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24
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Liang D, He W, Li C, Wang F, Crittenden JC, Feng Y. Remediation of nitrate contamination by membrane hydrogenotrophic denitrifying biofilm integrated in microbial electrolysis cell. WATER RESEARCH 2021; 188:116498. [PMID: 33080455 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2020.116498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 09/29/2020] [Accepted: 10/04/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Complete biological denitrification is usually restricted in electron donor lacking waters. Hydrogenotrophic denitrification attracts attention for its clean and cost-efficiency advantages. Therein, the hydrogen could be effectively generated by microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) from organic wastes. In this study, a gas diffusion membrane (GDM) integrated MEC (MMEC) was constructed and provided a novel non-polluting approach for nitrate contaminated water remediation, in which the hydrogen was recovered from substrate degradation in anode and diffused across GDM as electron donor for denitrification. The high overall nitrogen removal of 91 ± 0.1%-95 ± 1.9% and 90 ± 1.6%-94 ± 2.2% were respectively achieved in Ti-MMEC and SS-MMEC with titanium and stainless-steel mesh as cathode at all applied voltages (0.4-0.8 V). Decreasing applied voltage from 0.8 to 0.4 V significantly improved the electron utilization efficiency for denitrification from 26 ± 3.6% to 73 ± 0.1% in Ti-MMEC. Integrating MEC with GDM greatly improved TN removal by 40% under applied voltage of 0.8 V. The hydrogenotrophic denitrifiers of Rhodocyclaceae, Paracoccus, and Dethiobacter, dominated in MMECs facilitating TN removal. Functional denitrification related genes including napAB, nirKS, norBC and nosZ predicted by PICRUSt2 based on 16S rRNA gene data demonstrated higher abundance in MMECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Liang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, P. R. China
| | - Weihua He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, P. R. China.
| | - Chao Li
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, P. R. China
| | - Fei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, P. R. China
| | - John C Crittenden
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, P. R. China; Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 828 West Peachtree Street, Atlanta, GA 30332, United States
| | - Yujie Feng
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin, 150090, P. R. China.
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Draft Genome Sequence of Salinivibrio sp. Strain EAGSL, a Biotechnologically Relevant Halophilic Microorganism. Microbiol Resour Announc 2020; 9:9/43/e01020-20. [PMID: 33093049 PMCID: PMC7585845 DOI: 10.1128/mra.01020-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. strain EAGSL was isolated from the Great Salt Lake (Utah) for use in microbial electrochemical technologies experiencing fluctuating salt concentrations. Genome sequencing was performed with Ion Torrent technology, and the assembled genome reported here is 3,234,770 bp, with a GC content of 49.41%. The halophilic bacterium Salinivibrio sp. strain EAGSL was isolated from the Great Salt Lake (Utah) for use in microbial electrochemical technologies experiencing fluctuating salt concentrations. Genome sequencing was performed with Ion Torrent technology, and the assembled genome reported here is 3,234,770 bp with a GC content of 49.41%.
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26
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Chen H, Simoska O, Lim K, Grattieri M, Yuan M, Dong F, Lee YS, Beaver K, Weliwatte S, Gaffney EM, Minteer SD. Fundamentals, Applications, and Future Directions of Bioelectrocatalysis. Chem Rev 2020; 120:12903-12993. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.0c00472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 118] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Olja Simoska
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Koun Lim
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Matteo Grattieri
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Mengwei Yuan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Fangyuan Dong
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Yoo Seok Lee
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Kevin Beaver
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Samali Weliwatte
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Erin M. Gaffney
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
| | - Shelley D. Minteer
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, RM 2020, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, United States
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27
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The Influent Effects of Flow Rate Profile on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells Model. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13184735] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
The energy contained in wastewaters has been identified as a promising sustainable energy resource that could be harvested by using microbial fuel cells (MFC). When dealing with real wastewaters, the MFCs should be able to manage high flow rates and flow rates fluctuations. In this work, the short-term effects of the influent flow rate variations on the performance of a microbial fuel cell has been studied. With this aim, the influent flow rate was stepwise increased from 0.72 to 7.2 L/d and then stepwise decreased. The obtained results indicate that, on the one hand, an increase in the influent flow rate leads to higher chemical oxygen demand removal rates up to 396 g/(L/d) and higher electric power generation almost 18 mW/m2, but to lower coulombic efficiencies. On the other hand, the reduction of the flow rate increases the coulombic efficiencies, as well as the percentage of chemical oxygen demand removed, but decreases electric power generation. In the short-term, the exposition to higher influent flow rates causes the growth of the microbial population of the MFC, the growth of the non-electrogenic microorganisms being higher than that of the electrogenic ones. The higher growth of non-electrogenic microorganisms may lead to lower coulombic efficiencies.
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