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High strength wastewater treatment accompanied by power generation using air cathode microbial fuel cell

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  • Sevda, Surajbhan
  • Dominguez-Benetton, Xochitl
  • Vanbroekhoven, Karolien
  • De Wever, Heleen
  • Sreekrishnan, T.R.
  • Pant, Deepak

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) present a novel method for simultaneous bioelectricity generation and wastewater treatment. In this study, an air–cathode MFC with membrane-electrode assembly was operated over three batch cycles (total of 160days) and results indicated that molasses mixed sewage wastewater (high strength wastewater) containing 9978mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD) could be used as substrate to produce bioelectricity with this system. Three different compositions of wastewater were used as substrate. The original wastewater, half-diluted wastewater and centrifuged wastewater were used as substrate in MFCs. Maximum voltage output of 762mV and maximal power density of 382.5mW/m2 (5.06W/m3) were obtained with the original wastewater by the 14th day of operation. During this time the system evolved to 0.93Ωcm−2 internal resistance and 59% removal of the total COD were achieved. Centrifuged wastewater showed poor performance in terms of power production (0.12mW/m2 or 4.2mW/m3), presumably due to organic substrate limitations. The MFC running on diluted wastewater showed a power density of 56.17mW/m2 (2.25mW/m3), with 70% COD removal. Energy-Dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) analysis, together with other characterization methods, confirmed the breakdown of organic compounds in the wastewater, EDX and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) revealed the surface morphology of the materials utilized and showed the evolution in electrode and membrane composition after the long term MFC processes. Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles showed the presence of mixed populations enclosing the electrochemically-active bacteria that established a biofilm on the anode surface and as such differed from the suspended bacterial community in the anode medium. These results demonstrate that complex wastewater can be used as a substrate for power generation in MFCs and also can be treated with high COD removal efficiencies.

Suggested Citation

  • Sevda, Surajbhan & Dominguez-Benetton, Xochitl & Vanbroekhoven, Karolien & De Wever, Heleen & Sreekrishnan, T.R. & Pant, Deepak, 2013. "High strength wastewater treatment accompanied by power generation using air cathode microbial fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 194-206.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:105:y:2013:i:c:p:194-206
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2012.12.037
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    1. Wang, Yong-Peng & Liu, Xian-Wei & Li, Wen-Wei & Li, Feng & Wang, Yun-Kun & Sheng, Guo-Ping & Zeng, Raymond J. & Yu, Han-Qing, 2012. "A microbial fuel cell–membrane bioreactor integrated system for cost-effective wastewater treatment," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 230-235.
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    Cited by:

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    5. ElMekawy, Ahmed & Hegab, Hanaa M. & Vanbroekhoven, Karolien & Pant, Deepak, 2014. "Techno-productive potential of photosynthetic microbial fuel cells through different configurations," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 39(C), pages 617-627.
    6. Toczyłowska-Mamińska, Renata & Szymona, Karolina & Madej, Hubert & Wong, Wan Zhen & Bala, Agnieszka & Brutkowski, Wojciech & Krajewski, Krzysztof & H’ng, Paik San & Mamiński, Mariusz, 2015. "Cellulolytic and electrogenic activity of Enterobacter cloacae in mediatorless microbial fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 88-93.
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    10. Young Eun Song & Hitesh C. Boghani & Hong Suck Kim & Byung Goon Kim & Taeho Lee & Byong-Hun Jeon & Giuliano C. Premier & Jung Rae Kim, 2017. "Electricity Production by the Application of a Low Voltage DC-DC Boost Converter to a Continuously Operating Flat-Plate Microbial Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-16, April.
    11. Wang, Hongtao & Yang, Yi & Keller, Arturo A. & Li, Xiang & Feng, Shijin & Dong, Ya-nan & Li, Fengting, 2016. "Comparative analysis of energy intensity and carbon emissions in wastewater treatment in USA, Germany, China and South Africa," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 184(C), pages 873-881.
    12. Venkata Mohan, S. & Velvizhi, G. & Annie Modestra, J. & Srikanth, S., 2014. "Microbial fuel cell: Critical factors regulating bio-catalyzed electrochemical process and recent advancements," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 40(C), pages 779-797.
    13. Li, Xiaojing & Wang, Xin & Zhang, Yueyong & Ding, Ning & Zhou, Qixing, 2014. "Opening size optimization of metal matrix in rolling-pressed activated carbon air–cathode for microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 13-18.
    14. Li, Yan & Williams, Isaiah & Xu, Zhiheng & Li, Baikun & Li, Baitao, 2016. "Energy-positive nitrogen removal using the integrated short-cut nitrification and autotrophic denitrification microbial fuel cells (MFCs)," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 163(C), pages 352-360.
    15. Toczyłowska-Mamińska, Renata & Pielech-Przybylska, Katarzyna & Sekrecka-Belniak, Anna & Dziekońska-Kubczak, Urszula, 2020. "Stimulation of electricity production in microbial fuel cells via regulation of syntrophic consortium development," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 271(C).
    16. Ewing, Timothy & Ha, Phuc Thi & Beyenal, Haluk, 2017. "Evaluation of long-term performance of sediment microbial fuel cells and the role of natural resources," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 490-497.
    17. Wu, Yi-cheng & Wang, Ze-jie & Zheng, Yue & Xiao, Yong & Yang, Zhao-hui & Zhao, Feng, 2014. "Light intensity affects the performance of photo microbial fuel cells with Desmodesmus sp. A8 as cathodic microorganism," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 86-90.
    18. Santoro, Carlo & Abad, Fernando Benito & Serov, Alexey & Kodali, Mounika & Howe, Kerry J. & Soavi, Francesca & Atanassov, Plamen, 2017. "Supercapacitive microbial desalination cells: New class of power generating devices for reduction of salinity content," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 25-36.

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