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The Effect of Anode Material on the Performance of a Hydrogen Producing Microbial Electrolysis Cell, Operating with Synthetic and Real Wastewaters

Author

Listed:
  • Ilias Apostolopoulos

    (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Platani, GR 26504 Patras, Greece
    Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece)

  • Georgios Bampos

    (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Platani, GR 26504 Patras, Greece
    Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece)

  • Amaia Soto Beobide

    (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Platani, GR 26504 Patras, Greece)

  • Stefanos Dailianis

    (Department of Biology, Section of Animal Biology, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece)

  • George Voyiatzis

    (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Platani, GR 26504 Patras, Greece)

  • Symeon Bebelis

    (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Patras, GR 26500 Patras, Greece)

  • Gerasimos Lyberatos

    (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Platani, GR 26504 Patras, Greece
    School of Chemical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, GR 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Georgia Antonopoulou

    (Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences, Platani, GR 26504 Patras, Greece)

Abstract

The aim of the study was to assess the effect of anode materials, namely a carbon nanotube (CNT)-buckypaper and a commercial carbon paper (CP) on the performance of a two-chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), in terms of hydrogen production and main electrochemical characteristics. The experiments were performed using both acetate-based synthetic wastewater and real wastewater, specifically the effluent of a dark fermentative hydrogenogenic reactor (fermentation effluent), using cheese whey (CW) as substrate. The results showed that CP led to higher hydrogen production efficiency and current density compared to the CNT-buckypaper anode, which was attributed to the better colonization of the CP electrode with electroactive microorganisms, due to the negative effects of CNT-based materials on the bacteria metabolism. By using the fermentation effluent as substrate, a two-stage process is developed, where dark fermentation (DF) of CW for hydrogen production occurs in the first step, while the DF effluent is used as substrate in the MEC, in the second step, to further increase hydrogen production. By coupling DF-MEC, a dual environmental benefit is provided, combining sustainable bioenergy generation together with wastewater treatment, a fact that is also reinforced by the toxicity data of the current study.

Suggested Citation

  • Ilias Apostolopoulos & Georgios Bampos & Amaia Soto Beobide & Stefanos Dailianis & George Voyiatzis & Symeon Bebelis & Gerasimos Lyberatos & Georgia Antonopoulou, 2021. "The Effect of Anode Material on the Performance of a Hydrogen Producing Microbial Electrolysis Cell, Operating with Synthetic and Real Wastewaters," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(24), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:24:p:8375-:d:700647
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jayabalan, Tamilmani & Manickam, Matheswaran & Naina Mohamed, Samsudeen, 2020. "NiCo2O4-graphene nanocomposites in sugar industry wastewater fed microbial electrolysis cell for enhanced biohydrogen production," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 154(C), pages 1144-1152.
    2. 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).
    3. Antonopoulou, G. & Ntaikou, I. & Pastore, C. & di Bitonto, L. & Bebelis, S. & Lyberatos, G., 2019. "An overall perspective for the energetic valorization of household food waste using microbial fuel cell technology of its extract, coupled with anaerobic digestion of the solid residue," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 1064-1073.
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