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Supercapacitive microbial desalination cells: New class of power generating devices for reduction of salinity content

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  • Santoro, Carlo
  • Abad, Fernando Benito
  • Serov, Alexey
  • Kodali, Mounika
  • Howe, Kerry J.
  • Soavi, Francesca
  • Atanassov, Plamen

Abstract

In this work, the electrodes of a microbial desalination cell (MDC) are investigated as the positive and negative electrodes of an internal supercapacitor. The resulting system has been named a supercapacitive microbial desalination cell (SC-MDC). The electrodes are self-polarized by the red-ox reactions and therefore the anode acts as a negative electrode and the cathode as a positive electrode of the internal supercapacitor. In order to overcome cathodic losses, an additional capacitive electrode (AdE) was added and short-circuited with the SC-MDC cathode (SC-MDC-AdE). A total of 7600 discharge/self-recharge cycles (equivalent to 44 h of operation) of SC-MDC-AdE with a desalination chamber filled with an aqueous solution of 30 g L−1 NaCl are reported. The same reactor system was operated with real seawater collected from Pacific Ocean for 88 h (15,100 cycles). Maximum power generated was 1.63 ± 0.04 W m−2 for SC-MDC and 3.01 ± 0.01 W m−2 for SC-MDC-AdE. Solution conductivity in the desalination reactor decreased by ∼50% after 23 h and by more than 60% after 44 h. There was no observable change in the pH during cell operation. Power/current pulses were generated without an external power supply.

Suggested Citation

  • 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.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:208:y:2017:i:c:p:25-36
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2017.10.056
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