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Jalili P, Ala A, Nazari P, Jalili B, Ganji DD. A comprehensive review of microbial fuel cells considering materials, methods, structures, and microorganisms. Heliyon 2024; 10:e25439. [PMID: 38371992 PMCID: PMC10873675 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25439] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2023] [Revised: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are promising for generating renewable energy from organic matter and efficient wastewater treatment. Ensuring their practical viability requires meticulous optimization and precise design. Among the critical components of MFCs, the membrane separator plays a pivotal role in segregating the anode and cathode chambers. Recent investigations have shed light on the potential benefits of membrane-less MFCs in enhancing power generation. However, it is crucial to recognize that such configurations can adversely impact the electrocatalytic activity of anode microorganisms due to increased substrate and oxygen penetration, leading to decreased coulombic efficiency. Therefore, when selecting a membrane for MFCs, it is essential to consider key factors such as internal resistance, substrate loss, biofouling, and oxygen diffusion. Addressing these considerations carefully allows researchers to advance the performance and efficiency of MFCs, facilitating their practical application in sustainable energy production and wastewater treatment. Accelerated substrate penetration could also lead to cathode clogging and bacterial inactivation, reducing the MFC's efficiency. Overall, the design and optimization of MFCs, including the selection and use of membranes, are vital for their practical application in renewable energy generation and wastewater treatment. Further research is necessary to overcome the challenges of MFCs without a membrane and to develop improved membrane materials for MFCs. This review article aims to compile comprehensive information about all constituents of the microbial fuel cell, providing practical insights for researchers examining various variables in microbial fuel cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Payam Jalili
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amirhosein Ala
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Parham Nazari
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Bahram Jalili
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, North Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Davood Domiri Ganji
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, P.O. Box 484, Babol, Iran
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Rumen Inoculum Enhances Cathode Performance in Single-Chamber Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells. MATERIALS 2022; 15:ma15010379. [PMID: 35009526 PMCID: PMC8746161 DOI: 10.3390/ma15010379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2021] [Revised: 12/27/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
During the last decade, bioprospecting for electrochemically active bacteria has included the search for new sources of inoculum for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, concerning power and current production, a Geobacter-dominated mixed microbial community derived from a wastewater inoculum remains the standard. On the other hand, cathode performance is still one of the main limitations for MFCs, and the enrichment of a beneficial cathodic biofilm emerges as an alternative to increase its performance. Glucose-fed air-cathode reactors inoculated with a rumen-fluid enrichment and wastewater showed higher power densities and soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) removal (Pmax = 824.5 mWm−2; ΔsCOD = 96.1%) than reactors inoculated only with wastewater (Pmax = 634.1 mWm−2; ΔsCOD = 91.7%). Identical anode but different cathode potentials suggest that differences in performance were due to the cathode. Pyrosequencing analysis showed no significant differences between the anodic community structures derived from both inocula but increased relative abundances of Azoarcus and Victivallis species in the cathodic rumen enrichment. Results suggest that this rarely used inoculum for single-chamber MFCs contributed to cathodic biofilm improvements with no anodic biofilm effects.
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Prathiba S, Kumar PS, Vo DVN. Recent advancements in microbial fuel cells: A review on its electron transfer mechanisms, microbial community, types of substrates and design for bio-electrochemical treatment. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 286:131856. [PMID: 34399268 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.131856] [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: 06/13/2021] [Revised: 07/28/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
The development in urbanization, growth in industrialization and deficiency in crude oil wealth has made to focus more for the renewable and also sustainable spotless energy resources. In the past two decades, the concepts of microbial fuel cell have caught more considerations among the scientific societies for the probability of converting, organic waste materials into bio-energy using microorganisms catalyzed anode, and enzymatic/microbial/abiotic/biotic cathode electro-chemical reactions. The added benefit with MFCs technology for waste water treatment is numerous bio-centered processes are available such as sulfate removal, denitrification, nitrification, removal of chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand and heavy metals removal can be performed in the same MFC designed systems. The various factors intricate in MFC concepts in the direction of bioenergy production consists of maximum coulombic efficiency, power density and also the rate of removal of chemical oxygen demand which calculates the efficacy of the MFC unit. Even though the efficacy of MFCs in bioenergy production was initially quietly low, therefore to overcome these issues few modifications are incorporated in design and components of the MFC units, thereby functioning of the MFC unit have improvised the rate of bioenergy production to a substantial level by this means empowering application of MFC technology in numerous sectors including carbon capture, bio-hydrogen production, bioremediation, biosensors, desalination, and wastewater treatment. The present article reviews about the microbial community, types of substrates and information about the several designs of MFCs in an endeavor to get the better of practical difficulties of the MFC technology.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Prathiba
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603 110, India; Centre of Excellence in Water Research (CEWAR), Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603 110, India
| | - P Senthil Kumar
- Department of Chemical Engineering, Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603 110, India; Centre of Excellence in Water Research (CEWAR), Sri Sivasubramaniya Nadar College of Engineering, Chennai, 603 110, India.
| | - Dai-Viet N Vo
- Institute of Environmental Sciences, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
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Lv Y, Wang Y, Ren Y, Li X, Wang X, Li J. Effect of anaerobic sludge on the bioelectricity generation enhancement of bufferless single-chamber microbial fuel cells. Bioelectrochemistry 2019; 131:107387. [PMID: 31698179 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2019.107387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 09/07/2019] [Accepted: 09/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Enhancing the self-buffering capacity is critical in the operation of bufferless microbial fuel cells (BLMFCs). Inorganic carbon (IC) is an ideal endogenous buffer, but its spontaneously accumulated concentration is insufficient to adjust anolyte pH. In this study, BLMFCs were operated with anaerobic sludge to enhance IC accumulation and increase anolyte pH. The accumulated IC concentration during a single running cycle was elevated from 8.3 mM to 12.5 mM, and anolyte pH remained above 7.5. The electric power output was significantly promoted from 332.2 mW·m-2 to 628.1 mW·m-2, and the coulombic efficiency (CE) slightly increased from 16.4% to 19.5%. Geobacter was the electro-active genus in the anode biofilms of the MFCs, and its relative abundance in the KCl-S anode biofilm increased from 0.2% to 5.75%. After continuous operation, the predominant genus of the anaerobic sludge had changed from Flavobacterium to Fusibacter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying Lv
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yueping Ren
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, Nanjing, China.
| | - Xiufen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China; Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, Suzhou, China.
| | - Xinhua Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Jian Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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Wang Z, Zhang J, Guan X, She L, Xiang P, Xia S, Zhang Z. Bioelectrochemical acidolysis of magnesia to induce struvite crystallization for recovering phosphorus from aqueous solution. J Environ Sci (China) 2019; 85:119-128. [PMID: 31471018 DOI: 10.1016/j.jes.2019.05.012] [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: 05/13/2019] [Accepted: 05/13/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A novel struvite crystallization method induced by bioelectrochemical acidolysis of magnesia (MgO) was investigated to recover phosphorus (P) from aqueous solution using a dual-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (DMEC). Magnesium ion (Mg2+) in the anolyte was firstly confirmed to automatically migrate from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber, and then react with ammonium (NH4+) and phosphate (PO43-) in the catholyte to form struvite. Recovery efficiency of 17.8%-60.2% was obtained with the various N/P ratios in the catholyte. When MgO (low solubility under alkali conditions) was added into the anolyte, the bioelectrochemical acidolysis of MgO naturally took place and the released Mg2+ induced struvite crystallization in the cathode chamber for P recovery likewise. Besides, there was a strong linear positive correlation between the recovery efficiency and the MgO dosage (R2 = 0.935), applied voltage (R2 = 0.969) and N/P ratio (R2 = 0.905). Increasing the applied voltage was found to enhance the P recovery via promoting the MgO acidolysis and the released Mg2+ migration, while increasing the N/P ratio in the catholyte enhanced the P recovery via promoting the struvite crystallization. Moreover, the electrochemical performance of the system was promoted due to more stable anolyte pH and lower pH gradient between the two chambers. Current density was promoted by 10%, while the COD removal efficiency was improved from 78.2% to 91.8% in the anode chamber.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zuobin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- School of Civil and Transportation Engineering, Shanghai Urban Construction Vocational College, Shanghai 200432, China
| | - Xiao Guan
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Lu She
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Pengyu Xiang
- Zhejiang Weiming Environment Protection Co., Ltd., Wenzhou 325000, China
| | - Siqing Xia
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China
| | - Zhiqiang Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Yangtze River Water Environment, Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai 200092, China.
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Chen J, Lv Y, Wang Y, Ren Y, Li X, Wang X. Endogenous inorganic carbon buffers accumulation and self-buffering capacity enhancement of air-cathode microbial fuel cells through anolyte recycling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2019; 676:11-17. [PMID: 31029896 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.04.282] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 03/31/2019] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Anolyte acidification is inevitable in the operation of buffer-free microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which restricts the proliferation and metabolism of electroactive bacteria, and results in electric-power deterioration. The anodic metabolic end-products, inorganic carbons (IC), which are composed of H2CO3 (dissolved CO2), HCO3-, and CO32-, are ideal endogenous buffers, whereas the naturally accumulated IC are far from enough to prevent anolyte acidification. In this work, different volume ratios of the anolytes (10%, 30%, and 50%) were recycled to increase the IC concentrations of the single-chamber air-cathode buffer-free MFCs. Under anolyte recycling running mode, IC accumulation agreed with the SGompertz model and the fitting IC-asymptotic concentrations (ICAC) grew exponentially to 18.5 mM, 24.4 mM, and 32.8 mM as the anolyte recycling ratio increased from 10% to 30% and 50%. Self-buffering running can be realized when the anolyte recycling ratio exceeds 50% for the MFC feeding on 1 g·L-1 of acetate. The electric power for the 50% recycling scenario increased from the baseline control of 272.4 mW·m-2 to 628.5 mW·m-2. The coulombic efficiency (CE) was also apparently improved. This paper for the first time clarifies the accumulation law of endogenous IC buffers under anolyte partially recycling mode and their self-buffering effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinli Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Ying Lv
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yueping Ren
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Xiufen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Xinhua Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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Ren Y, Chen J, Li X, Yang N, Wang X. Enhanced bioelectricity generation of air-cathode buffer-free microbial fuel cells through short-term anolyte pH adjustment. Bioelectrochemistry 2018; 120:145-149. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2017.12.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Revised: 12/13/2017] [Accepted: 12/15/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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Ren Y, Chen J, Shi Y, Li X, Yang N, Wang X. Anolyte recycling enhanced bioelectricity generation of the buffer-free single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cell. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2017; 244:1183-1187. [PMID: 28838788 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2017.08.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Anolyte acidification is an inevitable restriction for the bioelectricity generation of buffer-free microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this work, acidification of the buffer-free KCl anolyte has been thoroughly eliminated through anolyte recycling. The accumulated HCO3- concentration in the recycled KCl anolyte was above 50mM, which played as natural buffer and elevated the anolyte pH to above 8. The maximum power density (Pmax) increased from 322.9mWm-2 to 527.2mWm-2, which is comparable with the phosphate buffered MFC. Besides Geobacter genus, the gradually increased anolyte pH and conductivity induced the growing of electrochemically active Geoalkalibacter genus, in the anode biofilm. Anolyte recycling is a feasible strategy to strengthen the self-buffering capacity of buffer-free MFCs, thoroughly eliminate the anolyte acidification and prominently enhance the electric power.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yueping Ren
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China.
| | - Jinli Chen
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Yugang Shi
- Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Food Safety, College of Food Science and Biotechnology, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou 310018, China
| | - Xiufen Li
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Na Yang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
| | - Xinhua Wang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Anaerobic Biotechnology, Jiangsu Cooperative Innovation Center of Technology and Material of Water Treatment, School of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, China
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