1
|
Neethu B, Ihjas K, Chakraborty I, Ghangrekar MM. Nickel adsorbed algae biochar based oxygen reduction reaction catalyst. Bioelectrochemistry 2024; 159:108747. [PMID: 38820671 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2024.108747] [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: 10/06/2023] [Revised: 05/18/2024] [Accepted: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
Lately, the bio electrochemical systems are emerging as an efficient wastewater treatment and energy conversion technology. However, their scaling-up is considerably restrained by slow-rate of cathodic oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) or otherwise by the high cost associated with the available efficient ORR catalysts. In this investigation, a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach for synthesizing Ni based ORR catalyst utilizing biosorption property of microalgae is accomplished. The synthesised Ni adsorbed algal biochar (NAB) served as an efficient cathode catalyst for enhancing ORR in a microbial carbon-capture cell (MCC). On increasing the initial concentration of Ni2+ in the aqueous medium from 100 mgL-1 to 500 mgL-1, the biosorption capacity was found to increase from 3 mgg-1 to 32 mgg-1 of algae cell. The MCC operated with NAB based cathode catalyst loading of 2 mgcm-2 exhibited 3.5 times higher power density (4.69 Wm-3) as compared to the one with commercial activated carbon. A significant organic matter removal (82 %) in the anodic chamber with simultaneous algal biomass productivity in the cathodic chamber was attained by MCC with cathode loaded with 2 mgcm-2 of NAB. Hence, this easily synthesised low-cost catalyst, out of waste stream, proved its ability to improve the performance of MCC.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- B Neethu
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur 721302, India; Kerala State Council for Science, Technology and Environment (KSCSTE), Sasthrabhavan, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram 69500, India.
| | - K Ihjas
- Ecology and Environment Research Group, KSCSTE-Centre for Water Resources Development and Management, Kozhikode, Kerala 673571, India
| | - I Chakraborty
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur 721302, India
| | - M M Ghangrekar
- Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur 721302, India
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Madondo NI, Rathilal S, Bakare BF, Tetteh EK. Effect of Electrode Spacing on the Performance of a Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell with Magnetite as an Additive. Molecules 2023; 28:molecules28062853. [PMID: 36985825 PMCID: PMC10058918 DOI: 10.3390/molecules28062853] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2023] [Revised: 03/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioelectrochemical system that can be employed for the generation of electrical energy under microbial activity during wastewater treatment practices. The optimization of electrode spacing is perhaps key to enhancing the performance of an MFC. In this study, electrode spacing was evaluated to determine its effect on the performance of MFCs. The experimental work was conducted utilizing batch digesters with electrode spacings of 2.0 cm, 4.0 cm, 6.0 cm, and 8.0 cm. The results demonstrate that the performance of the MFC improved when the electrode spacing increased from 2.0 to 6.0 cm. However, the efficiency decreased after 6.0 cm. The digester with an electrode spacing of 6.0 cm enhanced the efficiency of the MFC, which led to smaller internal resistance and greater biogas production of 662.4 mL/g VSfed. The electrochemical efficiency analysis demonstrated higher coulombic efficiency (68.7%) and electrical conductivity (177.9 µS/cm) for the 6.0 cm, which was evident from the enrichment of electrochemically active microorganisms. With regards to toxic contaminant removal, the same digester also performed well, revealing removals of over 83% for chemical oxygen demand (COD), total solids (TS), total suspended solids (TSS), and volatile solids (VS). Therefore, these results indicate that electrode spacing is a factor affecting the performance of an MFC, with an electrode spacing of 6.0 cm revealing the greatest potential to maximize biogas generation and the degradability of wastewater biochemical matter.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nhlanganiso Ivan Madondo
- Green Engineering Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, S4 Level 1, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Sudesh Rathilal
- Green Engineering Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, S4 Level 1, Durban 4000, South Africa
| | - Babatunde Femi Bakare
- Environmental Pollution and Remediation Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, P.O. Box 12363, Durban 4026, South Africa
| | - Emmanuel Kweinor Tetteh
- Green Engineering Research Group, Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment, Durban University of Technology, Steve Biko Campus, S4 Level 1, Durban 4000, South Africa
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
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.
Collapse
|
4
|
Do MH, Ngo HH, Guo W, Chang SW, Nguyen DD, Liu Q, Nghiem DL, Thanh BX, Zhang X, Hoang NB. Performance of a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell as a biosensor for in situ monitoring Bisphenol A in wastewater. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 845:157125. [PMID: 35792262 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157125] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2022] [Revised: 06/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
This research explores the possibilities of a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell as a biosensor to measure Bisphenol A (BPA) in wastewater. BPA is an organic compound and is considered to be an endocrine disruptor, affecting exposed organisms, the environment, and human health. The performance of the microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was first controlled with specific operational conditions (pH, temperature, fuel feeding rate, and organic loading rate) to obtain the best accuracy of the sensor signal. After that, BPA concentrations varying from 50 to 1000 μg L-1 were examined under the biosensor's cell voltage generation. The outcome illustrates that MFC generates the most power under the best possible conditions of neutral pH, 300 mg L-1 of COD, R 1000 Ω, and ambient temperature. In general, adding BPA improved the biosensor's cell voltage generation. A slight linear trend between voltage output generation and BPA concentration was observed with R2 0.96, which indicated that BPA in this particular concentration range did not real harm to the MFC's electrogenic bacteria. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) images revealed a better cover biofilm after BPA injection on the surface electrode compared to it without BPA. These results confirmed that electroactive biofilm-based MFCs can serve to detect BPA found in wastewaters.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Minh Hang Do
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Huu Hao Ngo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam; Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China.
| | - Wenshan Guo
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia; Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Soon Woong Chang
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Dinh Duc Nguyen
- Department of Environmental Energy Engineering, Kyonggi University, 442-760, Republic of Korea
| | - Qiang Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China
| | - Duc Long Nghiem
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia
| | - Bui Xuan Thanh
- Key Laboratory of Advanced Waste Treatment Technology, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam; Faculty of Environment and Natural Resources, Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology (HCMUT), Vietnam National University Ho Chi Minh (VNU-HCM), Ho Chi Minh City 700000, Viet Nam
| | - Xinbo Zhang
- Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, Tianjin 300384, China
| | - Ngoc Bich Hoang
- NTT Institute of Hi-Technology, Nguyen Tat Thanh University, Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
The use of organic waste as fuel for energy generation will reduce the great environmental problems currently caused by the consumption of fossil sources, giving agribusiness companies a profitable way to use their waste. In this research, tomato waste with different percentages of sucrose (0-target, 5, 10, and 20%) was used in microbial fuel cells manufactured on a laboratory scale with zinc and copper electrodes, managing to generate maximum peaks of voltage and a current of 1.08 V and 6.67 mA in the cell with 20% sucrose, in which it was observed that the optimum operating pH was 5.29, while the MFC with 0% (target) sucrose generated 0.91 V and 3.12 A on day 13 with a similar pH, even though all the cells worked in an acidic pH. Likewise, the cell with 20% sucrose had the lowest internal resistance (0.148541 ± 0.012361 KΩ) and the highest power density (224.77 mW/cm2) at a current density of 4.43 mA/cm2, while the MFC with 0% sucrose generated 160.52 mW/cm2 and 4.38 mA/cm2 of power density and current density, respectively, with an internal resistance of 0.34116 ± 0.2914 KΩ. In this sense, the FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) of all the substrates used showed a high content of phenolic compounds and carboxylate acids. Finally, the MFCs were connected in a series and managed to generate a voltage of 3.43 V, enough to light an LED (green). These results give great hope to companies and society that, in the near future, this technology can be taken to a larger scale.
Collapse
|
6
|
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]
|