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James A, Velayudhaperumal Chellam P. Recent Advances in the Development of Sustainable Composite Materials used as Membranes in Microbial Fuel Cells. CHEM REC 2024; 24:e202300227. [PMID: 37650319 DOI: 10.1002/tcr.202300227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Revised: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/01/2023]
Abstract
MFC can have dual functions; they can generate electricity from industrial and domestic effluents while purifying wastewater. Most MFC designs comprise a membrane which physically separates the cathode and anode compartments while keeping them electrically connected, playing a significant role in its efficiency. Popular commercial membranes such as Nafion, Hyflon and Zifron have excellent ionic conductivity, but have several drawbacks, mainly their prohibitive cost and non-biodegradability, preventing the large-scale application of MFC. Fabrication of composite materials that can function better at a much lower cost while also being environment-friendly has been the endeavor of few researchers over the past years. The current review aims to apprise readers of the latest trends of the past decade in fabricating composite membranes (CM) for MFC. For emphasis on environmental-friendly CM, the review begins with biopolymers, moving on to the carbon-polymer, polymer-polymer, and metal-polymer CM. Lastly, critical analysis towards technology-oriented propositions and realistic future directives in terms of strengths, weakness, opportunities, challenges (SWOC analysis) of the application of CM in MFC have been discussed for their possible large-scale use. The focus of this review is the development of hybrid materials as membranes for fuel cells, while underscoring the need for environment-friendly composites and processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anina James
- Department of Zoology, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, University of Delhi, 110078, Delhi, India
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2
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Zhu TJ, Lin CW, Liu SH. Sensitivity and reusability of a simple microbial fuel cell-based sensor for detecting bisphenol A in wastewater. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 320:138082. [PMID: 36758808 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Polycarbonate plastic processing wastewater contains high concentrations of bisphenol A (BPA), requiring a real-time technology to monitor wastewater containing BPA. Since the activity of electrogenic microorganisms on the anode surface of the microbial fuel cell (MFC) sensor is inhibited by exposure to contaminants, the toxicity of contaminants in wastewater can be determined by observing the variation in voltage output from the MFC sensor. The simple MFC sensor that is developed in this work exhibited a significant decrease in voltage output in BPA-containing wastewater concentration of 5-100 mg/L. Sensitivity analysis revealed that the voltage change (ΔV) was strongly correlated with the BPA concentration, with R2 as high as 0.97. This study was the first to investigate the number of repeated uses of the MFC sensor, using sodium acetate as the regeneration solution for the MFC sensor, leading to a successful recovery of detection performance. However, as the number of uses increased (up to the third or fourth use), the ΔV of the MFC sensor for BPA gradually decreased and the sensitivity decreased significantly from 0.238 mV/mg/L to 0.027 mV/mg/L. In the low BPA concentration range (≦20 mg/L), the MFC sensor can be reused up to 5 times, demonstrating that the proposed MFC sensor can be reused. Microorganisms contribute to the power generation of the MFC sensor, which can be exploited in the detection of pollutants, enabling the determination of wastewater toxicity and providing early warnings of thereof. Conventional MFC sensors are complex and lack the ability to explore repeated use, so they are not easily applied to actual wastewater detection. The proposed MFC sensor has many advantages such as simplicity, rapid detection, and reusability, solving the problem of the high cost of using disposable MFC sensors and making them feasible for practical use.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting-Jun Zhu
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, 64002, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chi-Wen Lin
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, 64002, Taiwan, ROC; Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, 64002, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Shu-Hui Liu
- Department of Safety, Health and Environmental Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin, 64002, Taiwan, ROC.
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Wang Z, Li D, Shi Y, Sun Y, Okeke SI, Yang L, Zhang W, Zhang Z, Shi Y, Xiao L. Recent Implementations of Hydrogel-Based Microbial Electrochemical Technologies (METs) in Sensing Applications. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:641. [PMID: 36679438 PMCID: PMC9866333 DOI: 10.3390/s23020641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 01/03/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Hydrogel materials have been used extensively in microbial electrochemical technology (MET) and sensor development due to their high biocompatibility and low toxicity. With an increasing demand for sensors across different sectors, it is crucial to understand the current state within the sectors of hydrogel METs and sensors. Surprisingly, a systematic review examining the application of hydrogel-based METs to sensor technologies has not yet been conducted. This review aimed to identify the current research progress surrounding the incorporation of hydrogels within METs and sensors development, with a specific focus on microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). The manufacturing process/cost, operational performance, analysis accuracy and stability of typical hydrogel materials in METs and sensors were summarised and analysed. The current challenges facing the technology as well as potential direction for future research were also discussed. This review will substantially promote the understanding of hydrogel materials used in METs and benefit the development of electrochemical biosensors using hydrogel-based METs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeena Wang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Dunzhu Li
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yunhong Shi
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yifan Sun
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Saviour I. Okeke
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Luming Yang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Wen Zhang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Zihan Zhang
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Yanqi Shi
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Liwen Xiao
- Department of Civil, Structural and Environmental Engineering, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
- TrinityHaus, Trinity College Dublin, D02 PN40 Dublin, Ireland
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Priya AK, Subha C, Kumar PS, Suresh R, Rajendran S, Vasseghian Y, Soto-Moscoso M. Advancements on sustainable microbial fuel cells and their future prospects: A review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 210:112930. [PMID: 35182595 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.112930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Revised: 01/31/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a sustainable device that produces electricity. The main components of MFC are electrodes (anode & cathode) and separators. The MFC's performance is ascertained by measuring its power density. Its components and other parameters, such as cell design and configuration, operation parameters (pH, salinity, and temperature), substrate characteristics, and microbes present in the substrate, all influence its performance. MFC can be scaled up and commercialized using low-cost materials without affecting its performance. Hence the choice of materials plays a significant role. In the past, precious and non-precious metals were mostly used. These were replaced by a variety of low-cost carbonaceous and non-carbonaceous materials. Nano materials, activated compounds, composite materials, have also found their way as components of MFC materials. This review describes the recently reported modified electrodes (anode and cathode), their improvisation, their merits, pollutant removal efficiency, and associated power density.
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Affiliation(s)
- A K Priya
- Department of Civil Engineering, KPR Institute of Engineering and Technology, Coimbatore, 641027, India
| | - C Subha
- Department of Civil Engineering, Ramco Institute of Technology, Rajapalayam, 626 117, India
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603 110, India
| | - R Suresh
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ambientales Zonas Áridas, Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avda. General Velásquez, 1775, Arica, Chile
| | - Saravanan Rajendran
- Laboratorio de Investigaciones Ambientales Zonas Áridas, Departamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad de Tarapacá, Avda. General Velásquez, 1775, Arica, Chile.
| | - Yasser Vasseghian
- Department of Chemistry, Soongsil University, Seoul, 06978, South Korea.
| | - Matias Soto-Moscoso
- Departamento de Física, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad del Bío-bío, avenida Collao 1202, casilla 15-C, Concepción, Chile
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Mahmoud RH, Gomaa OM, Hassan RYA. Bio-electrochemical frameworks governing microbial fuel cell performance: technical bottlenecks and proposed solutions. RSC Adv 2022; 12:5749-5764. [PMID: 35424538 PMCID: PMC8981509 DOI: 10.1039/d1ra08487a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 02/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are recognized as a future technology with a unique ability to exploit metabolic activities of living microorganisms for simultaneous conversion of chemical energy into electrical energy. This technology holds the promise to offer sustained innovations and continuous development towards many different applications and value-added production that extends beyond electricity generation, such as water desalination, wastewater treatment, heavy metal removal, bio-hydrogen production, volatile fatty acid production and biosensors. Despite these advantages, MFCs still face technical challenges in terms of low power and current density, limiting their use to powering only small-scale devices. Description of some of these challenges and their proposed solutions is demanded if MFCs are applied on a large or commercial scale. On the other hand, the slow oxygen reduction process (ORR) in the cathodic compartment is a major roadblock in the commercialization of fuel cells for energy conversion. Thus, the scope of this review article addresses the main technical challenges of MFC operation and provides different practical approaches based on different attempts reported over the years. Sustainable operation requires addressing key MFC-bottleneck issues. Enhancing extracellular electron transfer is the key to elevated MFC performance.![]()
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehab H. Mahmoud
- Water Pollution Research Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, Giza, Egypt
| | - Ola M. Gomaa
- Microbiology Department, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority (EAEA), Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Rabeay Y. A. Hassan
- Nanoscience Program, University of Science and Technology (UST), Zewail City of Science and Technology, 6th October City, Giza 12578, Egypt
- Applied Organic Chemistry Department, National Research Centre (NRC), Dokki, 12622 Giza, Egypt
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Sharif HMA, Farooq M, Hussain I, Ali M, Mujtaba M, Sultan M, Yang B. Recent innovations for scaling up microbial fuel cell systems: Significance of physicochemical factors for electrodes and membranes materials. J Taiwan Inst Chem Eng 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtice.2021.09.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Umar MF, Rafatullah M, Abbas SZ, Mohamad Ibrahim MN, Ismail N. Advancement in Benthic Microbial Fuel Cells toward Sustainable Bioremediation and Renewable Energy Production. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:3811. [PMID: 33917378 PMCID: PMC8038680 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18073811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Anthropogenic activities are largely responsible for the vast amounts of pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cyanides, phenols, metal derivatives, sulphides, and other chemicals in wastewater. The excess benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) can cause severe toxicity to living organisms in wastewater. A novel approach to mitigate this problem is the benthic microbial fuel cell (BMFC) setup to produce renewable energy and bio-remediate wastewater aromatic hydrocarbons. Several mechanisms of electrogens have been utilized for the bioremediation of BTX through BMFCs. In the future, BMFCs may be significant for chemical and petrochemical industry wastewater treatment. The distinct factors are considered to evaluate the performance of BMFCs, such as pollutant removal efficiency, power density, and current density, which are discussed by using operating parameters such as, pH, temperature and internal resistance. To further upgrade the BMFC technology, this review summarizes prototype electrode materials, the bioremediation of BTX, and their applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mohammad Faisal Umar
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; (M.F.U.); (N.I.)
| | - Mohd Rafatullah
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; (M.F.U.); (N.I.)
| | - Syed Zaghum Abbas
- Biofuels Institute, School of Environment and Safety Engineering, Jiangsu University, 301 Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang 212013, China;
| | | | - Norli Ismail
- School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, Penang 11800, Malaysia; (M.F.U.); (N.I.)
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Kugarajah V, Dharmalingam S. Sulphonated polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane/sulphonated poly ether ether ketone nanocomposite membranes for microbial fuel cell: Insights to the miniatures involved. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 260:127593. [PMID: 32679377 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2020] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In this study we demonstrate Sulphonated Polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane (S-POSS) incorporated Sulphonated Poly Ether Ether Ketone (SPEEK) as an effective cation exchange membrane (CEM) for improving performance and sustainability in a fabricated tubular Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). The organic-inorganic caged frame of S-POSS enables several ion conducting channels thereby resulting in better proton conductivity and water uptake in addition to hydroxide ions native in POSS. Among the membranes, SPEEK+ 5 wt% S-POSS exhibits a highest maximum performance of 162 ± 1.4 mW m-2 with the highest IEC of 1.8 ± 0.05 meq g-1. Microbial community analysis reveals the predominance of several bacterial strains contributing to wide range of mechanisms. Three phyla including Betaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria and Firmicutes showed maximum predominance. In addition to a novel nanocomposite membrane, the present research introduces perceptions of two metabolic mechanisms of the microbial community available which opens pathway for future insights on how other miniatures involve in electron transfer mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vaidhegi Kugarajah
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, 600 025, India
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Wang H, Liang X, Xue D. Geo-inspired crystallization engineering: multifunctional materials design and fabrication at nanoscale and beyond. NANOTECHNOLOGY 2020; 31:414002. [PMID: 32559757 DOI: 10.1088/1361-6528/ab9e8f] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Crystallization engineering aims to design and develop solutions for the optimum conversion of natural resources for use by humans, by using crystallization. Crystallization is a cross-scale process, from atoms, ions and molecules in microscale to bulk crystals in macroscale. Fabricating nanomaterials with desired performances is an open issue with multiscale challenges during crystallization. For innovation in crystallization engineering, geology may provide various sources of inspiration such as structures, compositions and formation conditions, if mineral materials can be regarded as novel artificial materials. This review shows us some geo-inspirations that enable people to create and engineer novel materials with satisfactory performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Rare Earth Resource Utilization, Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Changchun 130022, People's Republic of China. University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, People's Republic of China
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Kugarajah V, Sugumar M, Dharmalingam S. Nanocomposite membrane and microbial community analysis for improved performance in microbial fuel cell. Enzyme Microb Technol 2020; 140:109606. [DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2020.109606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2020] [Revised: 05/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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TiO2-Si- or SrTiO3-Si-impregnated PVA–based low-cost proton exchange membranes for application in microbial fuel cell. IONICS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s11581-020-03779-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
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