IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/appene/v198y2017icp261-266.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Gravity settling of planktonic bacteria to anodes enhances current production of microbial fuel cells

Author

Listed:
  • Li, Tian
  • Zhou, Lean
  • Qian, Yawei
  • Wan, Lili
  • Du, Qing
  • Li, Nan
  • Wang, Xin

Abstract

How to acclimate a highly electroactive biofilm in short time is the bottleneck to improve the power output of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Here we demonstrated that a simple method, the gravity settling (GS) of planktonic bacteria, is cost effective to improve MFC performance instead of physical and chemical treatment of anodes. The startup time is 12% shorter, and the maximum current density increases by 29% to 8.41±0.13Am−2 than that of the control. Cyclic voltammetries at different growth stages show that GS has a remarkable improvement (66%) on limiting current at the lag stage than at exponential (32%) and mature stages (24%), which was due to the 73% decrease in charge transfer resistance. Biofilm analysis further reveals that the GS promotes biofilm electroactivity per protein in addition to the accumulation of more biomass by gravitational settling, especially at the very beginning of electroactive biofilm formation. Our findings provide new knowledge on MFC startup, which is also important to enhance power densities of large scale MFCs in the future.

Suggested Citation

  • Li, Tian & Zhou, Lean & Qian, Yawei & Wan, Lili & Du, Qing & Li, Nan & Wang, Xin, 2017. "Gravity settling of planktonic bacteria to anodes enhances current production of microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 261-266.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:198:y:2017:i:c:p:261-266
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.04.078
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261917304671
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.04.078?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. 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.
    2. Alatraktchi, Fatima AlZahra’a & Zhang, Yifeng & Angelidaki, Irini, 2014. "Nanomodification of the electrodes in microbial fuel cell: Impact of nanoparticle density on electricity production and microbial community," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 216-222.
    3. Pandey, Prashant & Shinde, Vikas N. & Deopurkar, Rajendra L. & Kale, Sharad P. & Patil, Sunil A. & Pant, Deepak, 2016. "Recent advances in the use of different substrates in microbial fuel cells toward wastewater treatment and simultaneous energy recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 706-723.
    4. Huang, Zhe & Lu, Lu & Jiang, Daqian & Xing, Defeng & Ren, Zhiyong Jason, 2017. "Electrochemical hythane production for renewable energy storage and biogas upgrading," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 595-600.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Yan-Ming Chen & Chin-Tsan Wang & Yung-Chin Yang, 2018. "Effect of Wall Boundary Layer Thickness on Power Performance of a Recirculation Microbial Fuel Cell," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-11, April.
    2. Han, He-Xing & Shi, Chen & Yuan, Li & Sheng, Guo-Ping, 2017. "Enhancement of methyl orange degradation and power generation in a photoelectrocatalytic microbial fuel cell," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 382-389.
    3. Dhiman, Saurabh Sudha & David, Aditi & Braband, Vanessa W. & Hussein, Abdulmenan & Salem, David R. & Sani, Rajesh K., 2017. "Improved bioethanol production from corn stover: Role of enzymes, inducers and simultaneous product recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 208(C), pages 1420-1429.
    4. Wang, Chin-Tsan & Lee, Yao-Cheng & Ou, Yun-Ting & Yang, Yung-Chin & Chong, Wen-Tong & Sangeetha, Thangavel & Yan, Wei-Mon, 2017. "Exposing effect of comb-type cathode electrode on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 620-625.
    5. Chatterjee, Pritha & Dessì, Paolo & Kokko, Marika & Lakaniemi, Aino-Maija & Lens, Piet, 2019. "Selective enrichment of biocatalysts for bioelectrochemical systems: A critical review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 109(C), pages 10-23.
    6. Qixing Zhou & Ruixiang Li & Xiaolin Zhang & Tian Li, 2022. "Innovative Cost-Effective Nano-NiCo 2 O 4 Cathode Catalysts for Oxygen Reduction in Air–Cathode Microbial Electrochemical Systems," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(18), pages 1-11, September.
    7. Zhou, Lean & Liao, Chengmei & Li, Tian & An, Jingkun & Du, Qing & Wan, Lili & Li, Nan & Pan, Xiaoqiang & Wang, Xin, 2018. "Regeneration of activated carbon air-cathodes by half-wave rectified alternating fields in microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 199-206.
    8. Amen, Mohamed T. & Barakat, Nasser A.M. & Jamal, Mohammad Abu Hena Mostafa & Hong, Seong-Tshool & Mohamed, Ibrahim M.A. & Salama, Ali, 2018. "Anolyte in-situ functionalized carbon nanotubes electrons transport network as novel strategy for enhanced performance microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 228(C), pages 167-175.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Xu, Lei & Wang, Bodi & Liu, Xiuhua & Yu, Wenzheng & Zhao, Yaqian, 2018. "Maximizing the energy harvest from a microbial fuel cell embedded in a constructed wetland," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 214(C), pages 83-91.
    2. Zhou, Lean & Liao, Chengmei & Li, Tian & An, Jingkun & Du, Qing & Wan, Lili & Li, Nan & Pan, Xiaoqiang & Wang, Xin, 2018. "Regeneration of activated carbon air-cathodes by half-wave rectified alternating fields in microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 219(C), pages 199-206.
    3. Christwardana, Marcelinus & Frattini, Domenico & Duarte, Kimberley D.Z. & Accardo, Grazia & Kwon, Yongchai, 2019. "Carbon felt molecular modification and biofilm augmentation via quorum sensing approach in yeast-based microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 238(C), pages 239-248.
    4. Christwardana, Marcelinus & Frattini, Domenico & Accardo, Grazia & Yoon, Sung Pil & Kwon, Yongchai, 2018. "Early-stage performance evaluation of flowing microbial fuel cells using chemically treated carbon felt and yeast biocatalyst," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C), pages 369-382.
    5. 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.
    6. Liang, Peng & Zhang, Changyong & Jiang, Yong & Bian, Yanhong & Zhang, Helan & Sun, Xueliang & Yang, Xufei & Zhang, Xiaoyuan & Huang, Xia, 2017. "Performance enhancement of microbial fuel cell by applying transient-state regulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 185(P1), pages 582-588.
    7. He, Yuting & Li, Jun & Zhang, Liang & Zhu, Xun & Fu, Qian & Pang, Yuan & Liao, Qiang, 2024. "Nano zero-valent iron functioned 3D printing graphene aerogel electrode for efficient solar-driven biocatalytic methane production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 224(C).
    8. M'Arimi, M.M. & Mecha, C.A. & Kiprop, A.K. & Ramkat, R., 2020. "Recent trends in applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in bioenergy production: Review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    9. Rousseau, Raphaël & Etcheverry, Luc & Roubaud, Emma & Basséguy, Régine & Délia, Marie-Line & Bergel, Alain, 2020. "Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC): Strengths, weaknesses and research needs from electrochemical engineering standpoint," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 257(C).
    10. Tang, Raymond Chong Ong & Jang, Jer-Huan & Lan, Tzu-Hsuan & Wu, Jung-Chen & Yan, Wei-Mon & Sangeetha, Thangavel & Wang, Chin-Tsan & Ong, Hwai Chyuan & Ong, Zhi Chao, 2020. "Review on design factors of microbial fuel cells using Buckingham's Pi Theorem," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 130(C).
    11. Hu, Jianjun & Zhang, Quanguo & Lee, Duu-Jong & Ngo, Huu Hao, 2018. "Feasible use of microbial fuel cells for pollution treatment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 129(PB), pages 824-829.
    12. Sekar, Aiswarya Devi & Jayabalan, Tamilmani & Muthukumar, Harshiny & Chandrasekaran, Nivedhini Iswarya & Mohamed, Samsudeen Naina & Matheswaran, Manickam, 2019. "Enhancing power generation and treatment of dairy waste water in microbial fuel cell using Cu-doped iron oxide nanoparticles decorated anode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 173-180.
    13. Anusha Ganta & Yasser Bashir & Sovik Das, 2022. "Dairy Wastewater as a Potential Feedstock for Valuable Production with Concurrent Wastewater Treatment through Microbial Electrochemical Technologies," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-34, November.
    14. N. Evelin Paucar & Chikashi Sato, 2022. "Coupling Microbial Fuel Cell and Hydroponic System for Electricity Generation, Organic Removal, and Nutrient Recovery via Plant Production from Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-19, December.
    15. Cai, Weiwei & Zhang, Zhaojing & Ren, Ge & Shen, Qiuxuan & Hou, Yanan & Ma, Anzhou & Deng, Ye & Wang, Aijie & Liu, Wenzong, 2016. "Quorum sensing alters the microbial community of electrode-respiring bacteria and hydrogen scavengers toward improving hydrogen yield in microbial electrolysis cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 183(C), pages 1133-1141.
    16. Hani Alshahrani & Noman Islam & Darakhshan Syed & Adel Sulaiman & Mana Saleh Al Reshan & Khairan Rajab & Asadullah Shaikh & Jaweed Shuja-Uddin & Aadar Soomro, 2023. "Sustainability in Blockchain: A Systematic Literature Review on Scalability and Power Consumption Issues," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-24, February.
    17. Ding, Lingkan & Chan Gutierrez, Enrique & Cheng, Jun & Xia, Ao & O'Shea, Richard & Guneratnam, Amita Jacob & Murphy, Jerry D., 2018. "Assessment of continuous fermentative hydrogen and methane co-production using macro- and micro-algae with increasing organic loading rate," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 151(C), pages 760-770.
    18. Bahare Salehi & Lijun Wang, 2022. "Critical Review on Nanomaterials for Enhancing Bioconversion and Bioremediation of Agricultural Wastes and Wastewater," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-21, July.
    19. Bian, Bin & Shi, Le & Katuri, Krishna P. & Xu, Jiajie & Wang, Peng & Saikaly, Pascal E., 2020. "Efficient solar-to-acetate conversion from CO2 through microbial electrosynthesis coupled with stable photoanode," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 278(C).
    20. Kim, Jung Hwan & Park, I Seul & Park, Joo Yang, 2015. "Electricity generation and recovery of iron hydroxides using a single chamber fuel cell with iron anode and air-cathode for electrocoagulation," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 160(C), pages 18-27.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:198:y:2017:i:c:p:261-266. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/405891/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.