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Fernandez Feito R, Younas T, Dinsdale RM. Evaluation of a comprehensive power management system with maximum power point tracking algorithm for multiple microbial fuel cell energy harvesting. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 155:108597. [PMID: 37931472 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2023.108597] [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: 09/04/2023] [Revised: 10/09/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive power management system (PMS) capable of tracking the maximum power point (MPP) and harvesting the energy from up to five microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The harvested energy from the MFCs was used to power the electronics, and in cases where this power was insufficient, alternative backup power options can be used. The voltage can be increased up to 3.3 V, and a hysteresis-based control approach was utilised to regulate the output voltage. The MPP of each MFC was determined using a variable step size incremental conductance algorithm that controls the duty cycle of the synchronous boost converters. No additional electronic components are necessary for the operation of the N and P-channel MOSFETs. The efficiency of the PMS relies on the target output voltage and the power output characteristics of the MFCs. Efficiencies of up to 87 % were achieved by combining the outputs of each MFC boost converter. To save energy, some electronic components are disabled when not in use, and the maximum power consumption of the PCB is below 5.8 mW at an output voltage of 3.3 V. The PMS is applied to simulated and real tubular MFCs under various operating conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Fernandez Feito
- Sustainable Environment Research Centre, University of South Wales, Llantwit Road, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff CF37 1DL, UK.
| | - Tahreem Younas
- Sustainable Environment Research Centre, University of South Wales, Llantwit Road, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff CF37 1DL, UK
| | - Richard M Dinsdale
- Sustainable Environment Research Centre, University of South Wales, Llantwit Road, Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taff CF37 1DL, UK
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2
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Yang P, Gao Y, Wang N, Zhu Y, Xue L, Han Y, Liu J, He W, Feng Y. The restricted mass transfer inside the anode pore channel affects the electroactive biofilms formation, community composition and the power production in microbial electrochemical systems. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2023; 898:165448. [PMID: 37442459 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2023] [Revised: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Porous anodes improve system performance in microbial electrochemical systems by increasing the specific surface area for electroactive bacteria. In this study, multilayer anodes with different pore diameters were constructed to assess the impact of pore size and depth on anode performance. This layered structure makes detecting electroactive biofilms more accessible layer by layer, which is the first study to examine electroactive biofilms' molecular biology and electrochemical properties at different depths in pores with varied pore sizes. The millimeter-scale pores inside the bioanode have a limited effect in increasing power. The larger the pore diameter, the higher the maximum power density (Pmax) obtained. The Pmax of anodes with 4 mm pore (1.91 ± 0.15 W m-2) was 1.4 times higher than that of the non-perforated (1.37 ± 0.07 W m-2) and 0.5 mm pore anodes (1.39 ± 0.04 W m-2). Electricigens can colonize into pore channels for at least 10 mm with a pore diameter ≥3 mm and current densities >0.05 A m-2. However, in the pores channel with 0.5 mm diameter, electricigens can only colonize to a depth of 2 mm. The biofilm thickness, electricity output, metabolic activity, and biocommunity changed with pore depth and were restricted by the limited mass transfer. The Geobacter sp. was the dominant species in inter-pore biofilms, with 43.8 %-78.6 % in abundance and decreased in quantity as pore depth increased. The inter-pore biofilms on the outer layer contributed a current density of 0.17 ± 0.003 A m-2, while that of the inner layer was only 0.02 ± 0.01 A m-2. Further studies found that the pore edge mass transfer effect can contribute up to 75 % of the current. The mass transfer process at the pore edge region could be a multidirectional mass transfer rather than a pore channel mass transfer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinpin Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Yaqian Gao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Naiyu Wang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Yujie Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China
| | - Lefei Xue
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Han
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Jia Liu
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Weihua He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Yujie Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, 300072 Tianjin, China
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Jiang J, Lopez-Ruiz JA, Bian Y, Sun D, Yan Y, Chen X, Zhu J, May HD, Ren ZJ. Scale-up and techno-economic analysis of microbial electrolysis cells for hydrogen production from wastewater. WATER RESEARCH 2023; 241:120139. [PMID: 37270949 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2023.120139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have demonstrated high-rate H2 production while concurrently treating wastewater, but the transition in scale from laboratory research to systems that can be practically applied has encountered challenges. It has been more than a decade since the first pilot-scale MEC was reported, and in recent years, many attempts have been made to overcome the barriers and move the technology to the market. This study provided a detailed analysis of MEC scale-up efforts and summarized the key factors that should be considered to further develop the technology. We compared the major scale-up configurations and systematically evaluated their performance from both technical and economic perspectives. We characterized how system scale-up impacts the key performance metrics such as volumetric current density and H2 production rate, and we proposed methods to evaluate and optimize system design and fabrication. In addition, preliminary techno-economic analysis indicates that MECs can be profitable in many different market scenarios with or without subsidies. We also provide perspectives on future development needed to transition MEC technology to the marketplace.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinyue Jiang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Juan A Lopez-Ruiz
- Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Institute for Integrated Catalysis, Energy and Environment Directorate, 902 Battelle Blvd., Richland, WA 99352, USA
| | - Yanhong Bian
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Dongya Sun
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Yuqing Yan
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Xi Chen
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Junjie Zhu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Harold D May
- The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA; The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544, USA.
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Yang P, Gao Y, Xue L, Han Y, An J, He W, Feng Y. Lignocellulose reconstituted shape-controllable self-supporting carbonaceous capacitance-anodes with high electron transfer rates for high-performance microbial electrochemical system. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2023; 380:129072. [PMID: 37088429 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.129072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/18/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Natural biomass is a promising candidate for manufacturing an efficient anode in the microbial electrochemical system (MES) for its abundance and low cost. However, the structure and performance of the electrode highly depend on the biomass species. A simple and sustainable method for creating a self-supporting electrode is proposed by freeze-drying and carbonizing a blend of cellulose, lignin, and hemicellulose. This strategy leads to a cork-like structure and improved mechanical strength of the lignocellulose carbon. A power density of 4780 ± 260 mW m-2 (CLX-800) was achieved, which was the highest record for unmodified lignocellulose-based anodes in the microbial fuel cells. The morphological as lamellar multilayer and rich in hydrophilic functional groups could facilitate the formation of thick electroactive biofilms and enrich Geobacter with the highest abundance of 92.3%. The CLX material is expected to be the ideal electrode for high performance and functionally controllability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pinpin Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Yaqian Gao
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Lefei Xue
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Yu Han
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Jingkun An
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District 300072 Tianjin, China
| | - Weihua He
- State Key Laboratory of Urban Water Resource and Environment, School of Environment, Harbin Institute of Technology, Harbin 150090, China.
| | - Yujie Feng
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Academy of Ecology and Environment, Tianjin University, No 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District 300072 Tianjin, China
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Application of Magnetite-Nanoparticles and Microbial Fuel Cell on Anaerobic Digestion: Influence of External Resistance. Microorganisms 2023; 11:microorganisms11030643. [PMID: 36985216 PMCID: PMC10055030 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms11030643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 03/06/2023] Open
Abstract
In this paper, the application of magnetite-nanoparticles and a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was studied on the anaerobic digestion (AD) of sewage sludge. The experimental set-up included six 1 L biochemical methane potential (BMP) tests with different external resistors: (a) 100 Ω, (b) 300 Ω, (c) 500 Ω, (d) 800 Ω, (e) 1000 Ω, and (f) a control with no external resistor. The BMP tests were carried out using digesters with a working volume of 0.8 L fed with 0.5 L substrate, 0.3 L inoculum, and 0.53 g magnetite-nanoparticles. The results suggested that the ultimate biogas generation reached 692.7 mL/g VSfed in the 500 Ω digester, which was substantially greater than the 102.6 mL/g VSfed of the control. The electrochemical efficiency analysis also demonstrated higher coulombic efficiency (81.2%) and maximum power density (30.17 mW/ m2) for the 500 Ω digester. The digester also revealed a higher maximum voltage generation of 0.431 V, which was approximately 12.7 times the 0.034 V of the lowest-performing MFC (100 Ω digester). In terms of contaminants removed, the best-performing digester was the digester with 500 Ω, which reduced contaminants by more than 89% on COD, TS, VS, TSS and color. In terms of cost-benefit analysis, this digester produced the highest annual energy profit (48.22 ZAR/kWh or 3.45 USD/kWh). This infers the application of magnetite-nanoparticles and MFC on the AD of sewage sludge is very promising for biogas production. The digester with an external resistor of 500 Ω showed a high potential for use in bioelectrochemical biogas generation and contaminant removal for sewage sludge.
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A new integrated single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cell - Anaerobic membrane bioreactor system for improving methane production and membrane fouling mitigation. J Memb Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2022.120591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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7
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Impact of wastewater volume on cathode environment of the multi-anode shared cathode and standard single anode/cathode microbial fuel cells. CHEMICAL PAPERS 2022. [DOI: 10.1007/s11696-022-02316-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
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Yang XL, Wang Q, Li T, Xu H, Song HL. Antibiotic removal and antibiotic resistance genes fate by regulating bioelectrochemical characteristics in microbial fuel cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2022; 348:126752. [PMID: 35077813 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2022.126752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Revised: 01/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Antibiotics removal and ARGs control in microbial fuel cell (MFC) has received extensive attention. In particular, the critical role of bioelectrochemical characteristics deserves further study. Bioelectrochemical characteristics significantly affected sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal and ARGs fate, in which the current intensity played a more critical role than anode potential. High-concentration SMX (2 mg/L and 10 mg/L) facilitated the anode potential tend to be close, and thus, the strengthening effect of current on the system was highlighted. However, the SMX degradation pathway under different bioelectrochemical characteristics was not affected. Furthermore, the higher current intensity was preferable to antibiotic removal, but unfavorable for ARGs control might be due to the oxidative stress on microorganisms. Low-concentration SMX (0.5 mg/L) contributed to improving higher electricity generation because of Geobacter enrichement. This study suggested that appropriate bioelectrochemical characteristics regulation in MFCs was essential in removing antibiotics and controlling ARGs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiao-Li Yang
- School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Qi Wang
- School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Tao Li
- School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China.
| | - Han Xu
- School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing 211189, China
| | - Hai-Liang Song
- School of Environment, Nanjing Normal University, Jiangsu Engineering Lab of Water and Soil Eco-Remediation, Nanjing 210023, China
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Koók L, Nemestóthy N, Bélafi-Bakó K, Bakonyi P. The influential role of external electrical load in microbial fuel cells and related improvement strategies: A review. Bioelectrochemistry 2021; 140:107749. [PMID: 33549971 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2021.107749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The scope of the currentreviewis to discuss and evaluate the role of the external electrical load/resistor (EEL) on the overall behavior and functional properties of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In this work, a comprehensive analysis is made by considering various levels of MFC architecture, such as electric and energy harvesting efficiency, anode electrode potential shifts, electro-active biofilm formation, cell metabolism and extracellular electron transfer mechanisms, as a function of the EEL and its control strategies. It is outlined that taking the regulation of EEL into account at MFC optimization is highly beneficial, and in order to support this step, in this review, a variety of guidelines are collected and analyzed.
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Affiliation(s)
- László Koók
- Research Group on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Nándor Nemestóthy
- Research Group on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Katalin Bélafi-Bakó
- Research Group on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary
| | - Péter Bakonyi
- Research Group on Bioengineering, Membrane Technology and Energetics, University of Pannonia, Egyetem ut 10, 8200 Veszprém, Hungary.
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The Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell (ML-MFC) with Ni-Co and Cu-B Cathode Powered by the Process Wastewater from Yeast Production. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13153976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Research related to measurements of electricity production was combined with parallel wastewater parameter reduction in a membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) fed with industry process wastewater (from a yeast factory). Electrodes with Ni–Co and Cu–B catalysts were used as cathodes. A carbon electrode (carbon cloth) was used as a reference due to its widespread use. It was demonstrated that all analyzed electrodes could be employed as cathodes in ML-MFC fed with process wastewater from yeast production. Electricity measurements during ML-MFC operations indicated that power (6.19 mW) and current density (0.38 mA·cm−2) were the highest for Ni–Co electrodes. In addition, during the exploitation of ML-MFC, it was recorded that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal per time for all types of electrodes was similar to the duration of COD decrease in the conditions for wastewater aeration. However, the COD reduction curve for aeration took the most favorable course. The concentration of NH4+ in ML-MFC remained virtually constant throughout the measurement period, whereas NO3− levels indicated almost complete removal (with a minimum increase in the last days of cell exploitation).
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A Review of Control-Oriented Bioelectrochemical Mathematical Models of Microbial Fuel Cells. Processes (Basel) 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/pr8050583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a potentially viable renewable energy option which promises effective and commercial harvesting of electrical power by bacterial movement and at the same time also treats wastewater. Microbial fuel cells are complicated devices and therefore research in this field needs interdisciplinary knowledge and involves diverse areas such as biological, chemical, electrical, etc. In recent decades, rapid strides have taken place in fuel cell research and this technology has become more efficient. For effective usage, such devices need advanced control techniques for maintaining a balance between substrate supply, mass, charge, and external load. Most of the research work in this area focuses on experimental work and have been described from the design perspective. Recently, the development in mathematical modeling of such cells has taken place which has provided a few mathematical models. Mathematical modeling provides a better understanding of the operations and the dynamics of MFCs, which will help to develop control and optimization strategies. Control-oriented bio-electrochemical models with mass and charge balance of MFCs facilitate the development of advanced nonlinear controllers. This work reviews the different mathematical models of such cells available in the literature and then presents suitable parametrization to develop control-oriented bio-electrochemical models of three different types of cells with their uncertain parameters.
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Liu W, Yang G, Jia H, Wang J. A novel UASB-MFC dual sensors system for wastewater treatment: On-line sensor recovery and electrode cleaning in the long-term operation. CHEMOSPHERE 2020; 246:125751. [PMID: 31896017 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2019.125751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2019] [Revised: 11/24/2019] [Accepted: 12/24/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
In this research, the UASB-MFC dual sensors system was established and treatment the brewery wastewater. The COD removal rate attain about 90% and the NH4+-N concentration less than 15 mg/L, MFCs has a voltage range of 0.34-0.42 V. Meanwhile, as the biosensor for coupling system, MFCs can be used to make simultaneous monitor COD and TVFA. The potential distribution can in-situ accelerate the reattachment of micro-organisms, which shorten the recovery time to 55% of the original. The long-term performance of MFCs were tested by electrochemical methods and found that the degradation of biosensors was mainly caused by the precipitation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ on the cathode surface and affected by concentration. More importantly, cleaning the electrode by an self-enhanced method without external assistance ECS (Electrodes Connection Switching) can improve the MFCs performance to 83.2 %-84.6%. Dual sensors system in UASB gives a novel possibility for UASB-MFC sensor self-sustaining in a long-term.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenbin Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China; School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Guang Yang
- School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, 300072, China
| | - Hui Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China; School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China
| | - Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Separation Membranes and Membrane Processes, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China; School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Tianjin Polytechnic University, Tianjin, 300387, China.
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Renewable Energy and EU 2020 Target for Energy Efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. ENERGIES 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/en13040965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
Our paper focuses on the renewable energy and EU 2020 target for energy efficiency in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. We study the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in these two EU Member States through the prism of the Europe 2020 strategy and the 3 × 20 climate and energy package and economic growth (represented by the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) that allows to measure the national dynamics and provide cross-country comparisons) without attributing specific attention to issues such as the electrification of transport or heating, and thence leaving them outside the scope of this paper. Both Czech Republic and Slovakia are two post-Communist countries that still face the consequences of economic transformation and struggle with the optimal management of natural resources. Both countries encountered profound system transformation after 1989 that are apparent in all three measures of sustainable development used in our study. We show that it is unlikely that the planned increase in renewable energy in the Czech Republic and Slovakia will reach its targets, but they might succeed in reducing their energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Our findings show that the energy intensity of Czech and Slovak economies increased in the early 2000s and then stabilized at a level about twice of the EU average. It appears that this value is likely to remain the same in the forthcoming years. However, implementation of GHG emissions in the Czech Republic and Slovakia may be at risk in case the proper energy policy is not maintained. Moreover, our results show how the increase in the share of renewable energy and improvement in energy efficiency go hand-in-hand with mining and exploiting the energy sources that is notorious for the transition economies. We also demonstrate that a proper energy policy is required for effectively reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. There is a need for commitments made by relevant stakeholders and policymakers targeted at achieving sustainable economic growth and energy efficiency. In addition, we demonstrate that there is a need for maintaining a proper balance between economic development and environmental protection, which is a must for the EU sustainable energy development agenda and all its accompanying targets for all its Member States.
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Zhao N, Treu L, Angelidaki I, Zhang Y. Exoelectrogenic Anaerobic Granular Sludge for Simultaneous Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2019; 53:12130-12140. [PMID: 31507167 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.9b03395] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
A thick and electroactive biofilm is the key to the successful development of microbial electrochemical systems and technologies (METs). In this study, intact anaerobic granular sludge (AGS), which is a spherical and dense microbial association, was successfully demonstrated as a novel and efficient biocatalyst in METs such as microbial fuel cells. Three different strategies were explored to shift the microbial composition of AGS from methanogenic to exoelectrogenic microbes, including varying the external resistance and organic loading and manipulating the anode potential. Among all the strategies, only with positive anode potential, AGS was successfully shifted from methanogenic to exoelectrogenic conditions, as indicated by the significantly high current response (10.32 A/m2) and 100% removal of organic carbon from wastewater. Moreover, the AGS bioanode showed no significant decrease in current generation and organic removal at pH 5, indicating good tolerance of AGS to acidic conditions. Finally, 16S rRNA sequencing revealed the enrichment of exoelectrogens and inhibition of methanogens in the microbial community of AGS after anode potential control. This study provides a proof of concept for extracting electrical energy from organic wastes by exoelectrogenic AGS along with simultaneous wastewater treatment and meanwhile opens up a new paradigm to create an efficient and cost-effective exoelectrogenic biocatalyst for boosting the industrial application of METs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nannan Zhao
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , DK-2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Laura Treu
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , DK-2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Irini Angelidaki
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , DK-2800 Lyngby , Denmark
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Environmental Engineering , Technical University of Denmark , DK-2800 Lyngby , Denmark
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16
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Wastewater Treatment and Electricity Production in a Microbial Fuel Cell with Cu–B Alloy as the Cathode Catalyst. Catalysts 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/catal9070572] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The possibility of wastewater treatment and electricity production using a microbial fuel cell with Cu–B alloy as the cathode catalyst is presented in this paper. Our research covered the catalyst preparation; measurements of the electroless potential of electrodes with the Cu–B catalyst, measurements of the influence of anodic charge on the catalytic activity of the Cu–B alloy, electricity production in a microbial fuel cell (with a Cu–B cathode), and a comparison of changes in the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+, and NO3– in three reactors: one excluding aeration, one with aeration, and during microbial fuel cell operation (with a Cu–B cathode). During the experiments, electricity production equal to 0.21–0.35 mA·cm−2 was obtained. The use of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) with Cu–B offers a similar reduction time for COD to that resulting from the application of aeration. The measured reduction of NH4+ was unchanged when compared with cases employing MFCs, and it was found that effectiveness of about 90% can be achieved for NO3– reduction. From the results of this study, we conclude that Cu–B can be employed to play the role of a cathode catalyst in applications of microbial fuel cells employed for wastewater treatment and the production of electricity.
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Jadhav DA, Chendake AD, Schievano A, Pant D. Suppressing methanogens and enriching electrogens in bioelectrochemical systems. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2019; 277:148-156. [PMID: 30635224 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.12.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2018] [Revised: 12/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/26/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Suppression of methanogens is considered as one of the main challenges in achieving the practical application of several types of bioelectrochemical system (BES). Feasibility of mixed culture as an inoculum in BES is mainly restricted by methanogenic population. Methanogens compete with electrogens (in bioanodes) or acetogens (in biocathodes) for substrate which results in diminishing Coulombic efficiency. Selection of particular inoculum pretreatment method affects the microbial diversity in anodic/cathodic microenvironments and hence the performance of BES. This review discusses various physical, chemical and biological pretreatment methods for suppressing the growth of methanogens. Selective microbial enrichment in anodic/cathodic biofilm can be promoted with bioaugmentation and/or applied external potential approach to harvest maximum Coulombs from the substrate. For field application of BES, physical pretreatment methods can be proposed with intermittent addition of chemical inhibitors and conversion of methane to electricity in order to make the process inexpensive along with recovering the maximum energy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dipak A Jadhav
- Department of Agricultural Engineering, Maharashtra Institute of Technology, Aurangabad 431010, India
| | - Ashvini D Chendake
- Pad. Dr. D. Y. Patil College of Agricultural Engineering and Technology, Talsande, Kolhapur 416112, India
| | - Andrea Schievano
- e-BioCenter, Department of Environmental Science and Policy (ESP), Università degli Studi di Milano, Via Celoria 2, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Deepak Pant
- Separation and Conversion Technology, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Boeretang 200, Mol 2400, Belgium.
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18
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Perazzoli S, de Santana Neto JP, Soares HM. Prospects in bioelectrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2018; 78:1237-1248. [PMID: 30388080 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2018.410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Bioelectrochemical technologies are emerging as innovative solutions for waste treatment, offering flexible platforms for both oxidation and reduction reaction processes. A great variety of applications have been developed by utilizing the energy produced in bioelectrochemical systems, such as direct electric power generation, chemical production or water desalination. This manuscript provides a literature review on the prospects in bioelectrochemical technologies for wastewater treatment, including organic, nutrients and metals removal, production of chemical compounds and desalination. The challenges and perspectives for scale-up were discussed. A technological strategy to improve the process monitoring and control based on big data platforms is also presented. To translate the viability of wastewater treatment based on bioelectrochemical technologies into commercial application, it is necessary to exploit interdisciplinary areas by combining the water/wastewater sector, energy and data analytics technologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Perazzoli
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88034-001 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil E-mail:
| | - José P de Santana Neto
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88040-900 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
| | - Hugo M Soares
- Department of Chemical and Food Engineering, Federal University of Santa Catarina, 88034-001 Florianópolis, SC, Brazil E-mail:
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19
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Sonawane JM, Ghosh PC, Adeloju SB. Electrokinetic behaviour of conducting polymer modified stainless steel anodes during the enrichment phase in microbial fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2018.07.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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20
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Pasternak G, Greenman J, Ieropoulos I. Dynamic evolution of anodic biofilm when maturing under different external resistive loads in microbial fuel cells. Electrochemical perspective. JOURNAL OF POWER SOURCES 2018; 400:392-401. [PMID: 30739982 PMCID: PMC6358148 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2018.08.031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Appropriate inoculation and maturation may be crucial for shortening the startup time and maximising power output of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs), whilst ensuring stable operation. In this study we explore the relationship between electrochemical parameters of MFCs matured under different external resistance (Rext) values (50 Ω - 10 kΩ) using non-synthetic fuel (human urine). Maturing the biofilm under the lower selected Rext results in improved power performance and lowest internal resistance (Rint), whereas using higher Rext results in increased ohmic losses and inferior performance. When the optimal load is applied to the MFCs following maturity, dependence of microbial activity on original Rext values does not change, suggesting an irreversible effect on the biofilm, within the timeframe of the reported experiments. Biofilm microarchitecture is affected by Rext and plays an important role in MFC efficiency. Presence of water channels, EPS and precipitated salts is distinctive for higher Rext and open circuit MFCs. Correlation analysis reveals that the biofilm changes most dynamically in the first 5 weeks of operation and that fixed Rext lefts an electrochemical effect on biofilm performance. Therefore, the initial conditions of the biofilm development can affect its long-term structure, properties and activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grzegorz Pasternak
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Coldharbour Lane, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK
- Faculty of Chemistry, Wrocław University of Science and Technology, Wyb. Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wrocław, Poland
- Corresponding author. Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Coldharbour Lane, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK.
| | - John Greenman
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Coldharbour Lane, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK
| | - Ioannis Ieropoulos
- Bristol BioEnergy Centre, Bristol Robotics Laboratory, Coldharbour Lane, BS16 1QY Bristol, UK
- Corresponding author.
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21
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Wang Y, Wu J, Yang S, Li H, Li X. Electrode Modification and Optimization in Air-Cathode Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:ijerph15071349. [PMID: 29954125 PMCID: PMC6068820 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15071349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2018] [Revised: 06/06/2018] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Due to the known problems of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), such as low electricity generation performance and high cost of operation, we modified the electrode with graphene and polyaniline (PANI) is a single-chamber air-cathode MFC and then evaluated the effects of electrode modification on MFC electricity generation performance. Carbon cloth electrodes (unmodified, CC; graphene-modified, G/CC; and polyaniline-graphene-modified, PANI-G/CC) were prepared using the impregnation method. Sulfonated cobalt phthalocyanine (CoPcS) was then introduced as a cathode catalyst. The Co-PANI-G/CC cathode showed higher catalytic activity toward oxygen reduction compared with other electrodes. The maximum power density of the MFC with Co-PANI-G/CC cathode was 32.2 mW/m2, which was 1.8 and 6.1 times higher than the value obtained with Co-G/CC and Co/CC cathodes, respectively. This indicates a significant improvement in the electricity generation of single-chamber MFCs and provides a simple, effective cathode modification method. Furthermore, we constructed single-chamber MFCs using the modified anode and cathode and analyzed electricity generation and oxytetracycline (OTC) degradation with different concentrations of OTC as the fuel. With increasing added OTC concentration, the MFC performance in both electricity generation and OTC degradation gradually decreased. However, when less than 50 mg/L OTC was added, the 5-day degradation rate of OTC reached more than 90%. It is thus feasible to process OTC-containing wastewater and produce electricity using single-chamber MFCs, which provides a new concept for wastewater treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Wang
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Jiayan Wu
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
| | - Shengke Yang
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Huihui Li
- Key Laboratory of Subsurface Hydrology and Ecological Effects in Arid Region, Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Chang'an University, Xi'an 710054, China.
| | - Xiaoping Li
- School of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi'an 710119, China.
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22
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Wang CT, Huang YS, Sangeetha T, Chen YM, Chong WT, Ong HC, Zhao F, Yan WM. Novel bufferless photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (PMFCs) for enhanced electrochemical performance. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2018; 255:83-87. [PMID: 29414177 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.01.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2017] [Revised: 01/15/2018] [Accepted: 01/18/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
Photosynthetic microbial fuel cells (PMFCs) are novel bioelectrochemical transducers that employ microalgae to generate oxygen, organic metabolites and electrons. Conventional PMFCs employ non-eco-friendly membranes, catalysts and phosphate buffer solution. Eliminating the membrane, buffer and catalyst can make the MFC a practical possibility. Therefore, single chambered (SPMFC) were constructed and operated at different recirculation flow rates (0, 40 and 240 ml/min) under bufferless conditions. Furthermore, maximum power density of 4.06 mW/m2, current density of 46.34 mA/m2 and open circuit potential of 0.43 V and low internal resistance of 611.8 Ω were obtained at 40 ml/min. Based on the results it was decided that SPMFC was better for operation at 40 ml/min. Therefore, these findings provided progressive insights for future pilot and industrial scale studies of PMFCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chin-Tsan Wang
- Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Ilan University, I Lan, Taiwan
| | - Yan-Sian Huang
- Department of Mechanical and Electro-Mechanical Engineering, National Ilan University, I Lan, Taiwan
| | - Thangavel Sangeetha
- Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yen-Ming Chen
- Department of Materials and Mineral Resources Engineering & Institute of Materials Science and Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wen-Tong Chong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Hwai-Chyuan Ong
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Feng Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Institute of Urban Environment, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Xiamen, China
| | - Wei-Mon Yan
- Department of Energy and Refrigerating Air-Conditioning Engineering, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei, Taiwan.
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23
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Kokabian B, Smith R, Brooks JP, Gude VG. Bioelectricity production in photosynthetic microbial desalination cells under different flow configurations. J IND ENG CHEM 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jiec.2017.09.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
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24
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Wang Q, Huang L, Quan X, Zhao Q. Preferable utilization of in-situ produced H2O2 rather than externally added for efficient deposition of tungsten and molybdenum in microbial fuel cells. Electrochim Acta 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.electacta.2017.07.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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25
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Shrestha N, Chilkoor G, Xia L, Alvarado C, Kilduff JE, Keating JJ, Belfort G, Gadhamshetty V. Integrated membrane and microbial fuel cell technologies for enabling energy-efficient effluent Re-use in power plants. WATER RESEARCH 2017; 117:37-48. [PMID: 28388506 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.03.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2016] [Revised: 03/01/2017] [Accepted: 03/19/2017] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Municipal wastewater is an attractive alternative to freshwater sources to meet the cooling water needs of thermal power plants. Here we offer an energy-efficient integrated microbial fuel cell (MFC)/ultrafiltration (UF) process to purify primary clarifier effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant for use as cooling water. The microbial fuel cell was shown to significantly reduce chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the primary settled wastewater effluent upstream of the UF module, while eliminating the energy demand required to deliver dissolved oxygen in conventional aerobic treatment. We investigated surface modification of the UF membranes to control fouling. Two promising hydrophilic monomers were identified in a high-throughput search: zwitterion (2-(Methacryloyloxy)-ethyl-dimethyl-(3-sulfopropyl ammoniumhydroxide, abbreviated BET SO3-), and amine (2-(Methacryloyloxy) ethyl trimethylammonium chloride, abbreviated N(CH3)3+). Monomers were grafted using UV-induced polymerization on commercial poly (ether sulfone) membranes. Filtration of MFC effluent by membranes modified with BET SO3- and N(CH3)3+ exhibited a lower rate of resistance increase and lower energy consumption than the commercially available membrane. The MFC/UF process produced high quality cooling water that meets the Electrical Power Research Institute (EPRI) recommendations for COD, a suite of metals (Fe, Al, Cu, Zn, Si, Mn, S, Ca and Mg), and offered extremely low corrosion rates (<0.05 mm/yr). A series of AC and DC diagnostic tests were used to evaluate the MFC performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Namita Shrestha
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
| | - Govinda Chilkoor
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA
| | - Lichao Xia
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Catalina Alvarado
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - James E Kilduff
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA.
| | - John J Keating
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Georges Belfort
- Howard P. Isermann Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 110 8th Street, Troy, NY, 12180, USA
| | - Venkataramana Gadhamshetty
- Civil and Environmental Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA; Surface Engineering Research Center, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, 501 E Saint Joseph Blvd, Rapid City, SD 57701, USA.
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26
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Wang X, Zhou L, Lu L, Lobo FL, Li N, Wang H, Park J, Ren ZJ. Alternating Current Influences Anaerobic Electroactive Biofilm Activity. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2016; 50:9169-9176. [PMID: 27485403 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.6b00813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Alternating current (AC) is known to inactivate microbial growth in suspension, but how AC influences anaerobic biofilm activities has not been systematically investigated. Using a Geobacter dominated anaerobic biofilm growing on the electrodes of microbial electrochemical reactors, we found that high frequency AC ranging from 1 MHz to 1 kHz (amplitude of 5 V, 30 min) showed only temporary inhibition to the biofilm activity. However, lower frequency (100 Hz, 1.2 or 5 V) treatment led to 47 ± 19% permanent decrease in limiting current on the same biofilm, which is attributed to the action of electrohydrodynamic force that caused biofilm damage and loss of intercellular electron transfer network. Confocal microscopy images show such inactivation mainly occurred at the interface between the biofilm and the electrode. Reducing the frequency further to 1 Hz led to water electrolysis, which generated gas bubbles that flushed all attached cells out of the electrode. These findings provide new references on understanding and regulating biofilm growth, which has broader implications in biofouling control, anaerobic waste treatment, energy and product recovery, and general understanding of microbial ecology and physiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Wang
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Nankai University , No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lean Zhou
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Engineering Center of Environmental Diagnosis and Contamination Remediation, Nankai University , No. 38 Tongyan Road, Jinnan District, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Lu Lu
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Fernanda Leite Lobo
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Nan Li
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University , No. 92 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Heming Wang
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jaedo Park
- Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver , Denver, Colorado 80204, United States
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder , Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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27
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Hodgson DM, Smith A, Dahale S, Stratford JP, Li JV, Grüning A, Bushell ME, Marchesi JR, Avignone Rossa C. Segregation of the Anodic Microbial Communities in a Microbial Fuel Cell Cascade. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:699. [PMID: 27242723 PMCID: PMC4863660 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.00699] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2016] [Accepted: 04/26/2016] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Metabolic interactions within microbial communities are essential for the efficient degradation of complex organic compounds, and underpin natural phenomena driven by microorganisms, such as the recycling of carbon-, nitrogen-, and sulfur-containing molecules. These metabolic interactions ultimately determine the function, activity and stability of the community, and therefore their understanding would be essential to steer processes where microbial communities are involved. This is exploited in the design of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), bioelectrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy present in substrates into electrical energy through the metabolic activity of microorganisms, either single species or communities. In this work, we analyzed the evolution of the microbial community structure in a cascade of MFCs inoculated with an anaerobic microbial community and continuously fed with a complex medium. The analysis of the composition of the anodic communities revealed the establishment of different communities in the anodes of the hydraulically connected MFCs, with a decrease in the abundance of fermentative taxa and a concurrent increase in respiratory taxa along the cascade. The analysis of the metabolites in the anodic suspension showed a metabolic shift between the first and last MFC, confirming the segregation of the anodic communities. Those results suggest a metabolic interaction mechanism between the predominant fermentative bacteria at the first stages of the cascade and the anaerobic respiratory electrogenic population in the latter stages, which is reflected in the observed increase in power output. We show that our experimental system represents an ideal platform for optimization of processes where the degradation of complex substrates is involved, as well as a potential tool for the study of metabolic interactions in complex microbial communities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Douglas M Hodgson
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, University of Surrey Guildford, UK
| | - Ann Smith
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff University Cardiff, UK
| | - Sonal Dahale
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, University of Surrey Guildford, UK
| | - James P Stratford
- Warwick Integrative Synthetic Biology Centre, University of Warwick Coventry, UK
| | - Jia V Li
- Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College LondonLondon, UK; Division of Computational and Systems Medicine, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College LondonLondon, UK
| | - André Grüning
- Department of Computer Science, University of Surrey Guildford, UK
| | - Michael E Bushell
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, University of Surrey Guildford, UK
| | - Julian R Marchesi
- Cardiff School of Biosciences, Cardiff UniversityCardiff, UK; Centre for Digestive and Gut Health, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College LondonLondon, UK
| | - C Avignone Rossa
- Department of Microbial and Cellular Sciences, University of Surrey Guildford, UK
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28
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Biochar Based Microbial Fuel Cell for Enhanced Wastewater Treatment and Nutrient Recovery. SUSTAINABILITY 2016. [DOI: 10.3390/su8020169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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29
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Chemometrical assessment of the electrical parameters obtained by long-term operating freshwater sediment microbial fuel cells. Bioelectrochemistry 2015; 106:105-14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2015.05.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Revised: 05/07/2015] [Accepted: 05/22/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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30
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Wang H, Park JD, Ren ZJ. Practical energy harvesting for microbial fuel cells: a review. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2015; 49:3267-77. [PMID: 25670167 DOI: 10.1021/es5047765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 142] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
The microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology offers sustainable solutions for distributed power systems and energy positive wastewater treatment, but the generation of practically usable power from MFCs remains a major challenge for system scale up and application. Commonly used external resistors will not harvest any usable energy, so energy-harvesting circuits are needed for real world applications. This review summarizes, explains, and discusses the different energy harvesting methods, components, and systems that can extract and condition the MFC energy for direct utilization. This study aims to assist environmental scientists and engineers to gain fundamental understandings of these electronic systems and algorithms, and it also offers research directions and insights on how to overcome the barriers, so the technology can be further advanced and applied in larger scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heming Wang
- †Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
| | - Jae-Do Park
- ‡Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80204, United States
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- †Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, Colorado 80309, United States
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31
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Yazdi H, Alzate-Gaviria L, Ren ZJ. Pluggable microbial fuel cell stacks for septic wastewater treatment and electricity production. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2015; 180:258-263. [PMID: 25616240 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.12.100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2014] [Revised: 12/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/29/2014] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Septic tanks and other decentralized wastewater treatment systems play an important role in protecting public health and water resource for remote or developing communities. Current septic systems do not have energy production capability, yet such feature can be very valuable for areas lack access to electricity. Here we present an easy-to-operate microbial fuel cell (MFC) stack that consists a common base and multiple pluggable units, which can be connected in either series or parallel for electricity generation during waste treatment in septic tanks. Lab studies showed such easy configuration obtained a power density of 142±6.71mWm(-2) when 3 units are connected in parallel, and preliminary calculation indicates that a system that costs approximately US $25 can power a 6-watt LED light for 4h per day with great improvement potential. Detailed electrochemical characterizations provide insights on system internal loss and technology advancement needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hadi Yazdi
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA
| | | | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO, USA.
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32
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Xu N, Zeng Y, Li J, Zhang Y, Sun W. Removal of 17β-estrodial in a bio-electro-Fenton system: contribution of oxidation and generation of hydroxyl radicals with the Fenton reaction and carbon felt cathode. RSC Adv 2015. [DOI: 10.1039/c5ra08053c] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
A bio-electro-Fenton (BEF) system equipped with a Fe@Fe2O3/non-catalyzed carbon felt (NCF) cathode was optimized, and the generation of hydroxyl radicals was confirmed for E2 removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nan Xu
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization
- School of Environment and Energy
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
- Shenzhen 518055
- China
| | - Yaqiong Zeng
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization
- School of Environment and Energy
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
- Shenzhen 518055
- China
| | - Jie Li
- Key Laboratory for Heavy Metal Pollution Control and Reutilization
- School of Environment and Energy
- Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School
- Shenzhen 518055
- China
| | - Yingyuan Zhang
- Institute of New Energy
- State Key Laboratory of Heavy Oil Processing
- University of Petroleum
- Beijing 102249
- China
| | - Weiling Sun
- College of Environmental Sciences and Engineering
- Peking University
- The Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences
- Ministry of Education
- Beijing 100871
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33
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Zhi W, Ge Z, He Z, Zhang H. Methods for understanding microbial community structures and functions in microbial fuel cells: a review. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2014; 171:461-468. [PMID: 25223851 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.08.096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2014] [Revised: 08/21/2014] [Accepted: 08/22/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) employ microorganisms to recover electric energy from organic matter. However, fundamental knowledge of electrochemically active bacteria is still required to maximize MFCs power output for practical applications. This review presents microbiological and electrochemical techniques to help researchers choose the appropriate methods for the MFCs study. Pre-genomic and genomic techniques such as 16S rRNA based phylogeny and metagenomics have provided important information in the structure and genetic potential of electrode-colonizing microbial communities. Post-genomic techniques such as metatranscriptomics allow functional characterizations of electrode biofilm communities by quantifying gene expression levels. Isotope-assisted phylogenetic analysis can further link taxonomic information to microbial metabolisms. A combination of electrochemical, phylogenetic, metagenomic, and post-metagenomic techniques offers opportunities to a better understanding of the extracellular electron transfer process, which in turn can lead to process optimization for power output.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Zhi
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zheng Ge
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Zhen He
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - Husen Zhang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
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Huggins T, Wang H, Kearns J, Jenkins P, Ren ZJ. Biochar as a sustainable electrode material for electricity production in microbial fuel cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2014; 157:114-9. [PMID: 24534792 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2014.01.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2013] [Revised: 01/13/2014] [Accepted: 01/15/2014] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Wood-based biochars were used as microbial fuel cell electrodes to significantly reduce cost and carbon footprint. The biochar was made using forestry residue (BCc) and compressed milling residue (BCp). Side-by-side comparison show the specific area of BCp (469.9m(2)g(-1)) and BCc (428.6cm(2)g(-1)) is lower than granular activated carbon (GAC) (1247.8m(2)g(-1)) but higher than graphite granule (GG) (0.44m(2)g(-1)). Both biochars showed power outputs of 532±18mWm(-2) (BCp) and 457±20mWm(-2) (BCc), comparable with GAC (674±10mWm(-2)) and GG (566±5mWm(-2)). However, lower material expenses made their power output cost 17-35US$W(-1), 90% cheaper than GAC (402US$W(-1)) or GG (392US$W(-1)). Biochar from waste also reduced the energy and carbon footprint associated with electrode manufacturing and the disposal of which could have additional agronomic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler Huggins
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Heming Wang
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Joshua Kearns
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States
| | - Peter Jenkins
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Denver, CO 80204, United States
| | - Zhiyong Jason Ren
- Department of Civil, Environmental, and Architectural Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, United States.
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35
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Chookaew T, Prasertsan P, Ren ZJ. Two-stage conversion of crude glycerol to energy using dark fermentation linked with microbial fuel cell or microbial electrolysis cell. N Biotechnol 2014; 31:179-84. [DOI: 10.1016/j.nbt.2013.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2013] [Revised: 11/28/2013] [Accepted: 12/22/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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36
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Effects of External Resistance on Microbial Fuel Cell’s Performance. THE HANDBOOK OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY 2014. [DOI: 10.1007/698_2014_290] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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37
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Peng X, Yu H, Yu H, Wang X. Lack of anodic capacitance causes power overshoot in microbial fuel cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 138:353-358. [PMID: 23624054 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2013] [Revised: 03/26/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Power overshoot commonly makes the performance evaluation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) inaccurate. Here, three types of carbon with different capacitance (ultracapacitor activated carbon (UAC), plain activated carbon (PAC) and carbon black (CB)) rolled on stainless steel mesh (SSM) as anodes to investigate the relationship between overshoot and anodic capacitance. It was not observed in all cycles of UAC-MFCs (from Cycle 2 to 4) due to the largest abiotic capacitance (Cm(abiotic)) of 2.1F/cm(2), while this phenomenon was eliminated in PAC-MFCs (Cm(abiotic)=1.6 F/cm(2)) from Cycle 3 and in CB-MFCs (Cm(abiotic)=0.5F/cm(2)) from Cycle 4, indicated that the Cm(abiotic) of the anode stored charges and functioned as electron shuttle to overcome the power overshoot. With bacterial colonization, the transient charge storage in biofilm resulted in a 0.1-0.4F/cm(2) increase in total capacitance for anodes, which was the possible reason for the elimination of power overshoot in PAC/CB-MFCs after multi cycle acclimation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinhong Peng
- MOE Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, No. 94 Weijin Road, Nankai District, Tianjin 300071, China
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38
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Guo F, Fu G, Zhang Z, Zhang C. Mustard tuber wastewater treatment and simultaneous electricity generation using microbial fuel cells. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 136:425-430. [PMID: 23567712 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.02.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2013] [Revised: 02/25/2013] [Accepted: 02/27/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Mustard tuber wastewater (MTWW) was utilized as fuel in the typical dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to recover bio-energy and to obtain effluent treatment simultaneously. The whole experiment was divided into four phases characterized by increasing contents of primary clarifier effluent (PCE). Results showed substrate1, with which MFC generated a maximum power density of 246 mW/m(2), was the most appropriate fuel in terms of power recovery and the internal resistance and columbic efficiency were 121 Ω and 67.7±1%, respectively. When feeding MFCs with substrate4, 85±0% of COD could be removed, which was the highest COD removal, however, the power retrieve efficiency was much lower. Interestingly, significantly negative correlation (P<0.01, F-test) between contents of PCE and maximum cell voltages and positive correlation between the contents and internal resistances were found. It was the complexity and colloidal particulates present in PCE that gradually increased internal resistance and accordingly decreased power-generating performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Guo
- Faculty of Urban Construction and Environmental Engineering, Chongqing University, Chongqing 400044, China
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39
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Zhang G, Zhang H, Zhang C, Zhang G, Yang F, Yuan G, Gao F. Simultaneous nitrogen and carbon removal in a single chamber microbial fuel cell with a rotating biocathode. Process Biochem 2013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.procbio.2013.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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40
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Hou H, Chen X, Thomas AW, Catania C, Kirchhofer ND, Garner LE, Han A, Bazan GC. Conjugated oligoelectrolytes increase power generation in E. coli microbial fuel cells. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2013; 25:1593-1597. [PMID: 23345125 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201204271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A series of conjugated oligoelectrolytes with structural variations is used to stain E. coli. By taking advantage of a high-throughput screening platform that incorporates gold anodes, it is found that MFCs with COE-modified E. coli generate significantly higher power densities, relative to unmodified E. coli. These findings highlight the potential of using water-soluble molecules inspired by the work on organic semiconductors to improve electrode/microbe interfaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huijie Hou
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Center for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA 93117, USA
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41
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Zhang X, Liang P, Shi J, Wei J, Huang X. Using a glass fiber separator in a single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cell shortens start-up time and improves anode performance at ambient and mesophilic temperatures. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 130:529-535. [PMID: 23334007 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2012] [Revised: 12/11/2012] [Accepted: 12/12/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A shorter start-up time and highly negative anode potentials are needed to improve single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Using a glass fiber separator reduced the start-up time from 10d to 8d at 20°C, and from 4d to 2d at 30°C, and enhanced coulombic efficiency (CE) from <60% to 89% (20°C) and 87% (30°C). Separators also reduced anode potentials by 20-190mV, charge transfer resistances by 76% (20°C) and 19% (30°C), and increased CV peak currents by 24% (20°C) and 8% (30°C) and the potential range for redox activity (-0.55 to 0.10mV vs. -0.49 to -0.24mV at 20°C). Using a glass fiber separator in an air-cathode MFC, combined with inoculation at a mesophilic temperature, are excellent strategies to shorten start-up time and to enhance anode performance and CE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoyuan Zhang
- State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, THU-VEOLIA Environment Joint Research Center for Advanced Environmental Technology, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
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42
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Patil SA, Hägerhäll C, Gorton L. Electron transfer mechanisms between microorganisms and electrodes in bioelectrochemical systems. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1007/s12566-012-0033-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 146] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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43
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Forrestal C, Xu P, Jenkins PE, Ren Z. Microbial desalination cell with capacitive adsorption for ion migration control. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2012; 120:332-336. [PMID: 22784594 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2012] [Revised: 06/13/2012] [Accepted: 06/15/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
A new microbial desalination cell with capacitive adsorption capability (cMDC) was developed to solve the ion migration problem facing current MDC systems. Traditional MDCs remove salts by transferring ions to the anode and cathode chambers, which may prohibit wastewater beneficial reuse due to increased salinity. The cMDC uses adsorptive activated carbon cloth (ACC) as the electrodes and utilizes the formed capacitive double layers for electrochemical ion adsorption. The cMDC removed an average of 69.4% of the salt from the desalination chamber through electrode adsorption during one batch cycle, and it did not add salts to the anode or cathode chamber. It was estimated that 61-82.2mg of total dissolved solids (TDS) was adsorbed to 1g of ACC electrode. The cMDC provides a new approach for salt management, organic removal, and energy production. Further studies will be conducted to optimize reactor configuration and achieve in situ electrode regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Casey Forrestal
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80004, USA
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44
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Luo H, Xu P, Ren Z. Long-term performance and characterization of microbial desalination cells in treating domestic wastewater. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2012; 120:187-193. [PMID: 22797084 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.06.054] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2011] [Revised: 06/15/2012] [Accepted: 06/17/2012] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
Microbial desalination cell represents a new technology for simultaneous wastewater treatment, water desalination, and energy production. This study characterized the long-term performance of MDC during wastewater treatment and identified the key factors that caused performance decline. The 8-month operation shows that MDC performance decreased over time, as indicated by a 47% decline in current density, a 46% drop in Columbic efficiency, and a 27% decrease in desalination efficiency. Advanced electrochemical, microscopy, and spectroscopy analyses all confirmed biofouling on the anion exchange membrane, which increased system resistance and reduced ionic transfer and energy conversion efficiency. Minor chemical scaling was found on the cation exchange membrane surface. Microbial communities became less diverse at the end of operation, and Proteobacteria spp. was dominant on both anode and AEM fouling layer surface. These results provide insights into the viability of long-term MDC operation on reactor performance and direct system development through membrane optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiping Luo
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80004, USA
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45
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Luo H, Xu P, Jenkins PE, Ren Z. Ionic composition and transport mechanisms in microbial desalination cells. J Memb Sci 2012. [DOI: 10.1016/j.memsci.2012.02.059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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46
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Wang H, Park JD, Ren Z. Active energy harvesting from microbial fuel cells at the maximum power point without using resistors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2012; 46:5247-5252. [PMID: 22486712 DOI: 10.1021/es300313d] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology offers a sustainable approach to harvest electricity from biodegradable materials. Energy production from MFCs has been demonstrated using external resistors or charge pumps, but such methods can only dissipate energy through heat or receive electrons passively from the MFC without any controllability. This study developed a new approach and system that can actively extract energy from MFC reactors at any operating point without using any resistors, especially at the peak power point to maximize energy production. Results show that power harvesting from a recirculating-flow MFC can be well maintained by the maximum power point circuit (MPPC) at its peak power point, while a charge pump was not able to change operating point due to current limitation. Within 18-h test, the energy gained from the MPPC was 76.8 J, 76 times higher than the charge pump (1.0 J) that was commonly used in MFC studies. Both conditions resulted in similar organic removal, but the Coulombic efficiency obtained from the MPPC was 21 times higher than that of the charge pump. Different numbers of capacitors could be used in the MPPC for various energy storage requirements and power supply, and the energy conversion efficiency of the MPPC was further characterized to identify key factors for system improvement. This active energy harvesting approach provides a new perspective for energy harvesting that can maximize MFC energy generation and system controllability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heming Wang
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, Colorado 80004, USA
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47
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Luo H, Xu P, Roane TM, Jenkins PE, Ren Z. Microbial desalination cells for improved performance in wastewater treatment, electricity production, and desalination. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2012; 105:60-66. [PMID: 22178493 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.11.098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2011] [Revised: 11/15/2011] [Accepted: 11/24/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The low conductivity and alkalinity in municipal wastewater significantly limit power production from microbial fuel cells (MFCs). This study integrated desalination with wastewater treatment and electricity production in a microbial desalination cell (MDC) by utilizing the mutual benefits among the above functions. When using wastewater as the sole substrate, the power output from the MDC (8.01 W/m(3)) was four times higher than a control MFC without desalination function. In addition, the MDC removed 66% of the salts and improved COD removal by 52% and Coulombic efficiency by 131%. Desalination in MDCs improved wastewater characteristics by increasing the conductivity by 2.5 times and stabilizing anolyte pH, which therefore reduced system resistance and maintained microbial activity. Microbial community analysis revealed a more diverse anode microbial structure in the MDC than in the MFC. The results demonstrated that MDC can serve as a viable option for integrated wastewater treatment, energy production, and desalination.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiping Luo
- Department of Civil Engineering, University of Colorado Denver, Denver, CO 80004, USA
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48
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Wang H, Lu L, Cui F, Liu D, Zhao Z, Xu Y. Simultaneous bioelectrochemical degradation of algae sludge and energy recovery in microbial fuel cells. RSC Adv 2012. [DOI: 10.1039/c2ra20631e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
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49
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Dominguez-Benetton X, Sevda S, Vanbroekhoven K, Pant D. The accurate use of impedance analysis for the study of microbial electrochemical systems. Chem Soc Rev 2012; 41:7228-46. [DOI: 10.1039/c2cs35026b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 185] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
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