Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal using a litre-scale upflow microbial fuel cell

2013 ◽  
Vol 69 (2) ◽  
pp. 293-297 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ling-ling Zhao ◽  
Tian-shun Song
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Pilot Scale ◽  
Chicken Manure ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Nitrification Rate ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

A 10 L upflow microbial fuel cell (UMFC) was constructed for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal. During the 6-month operation, the UMFC constantly removed carbon and nitrogen, and then generated electricity with synthetic wastewater as substrate. At 5.0 mg L−1 dissolved oxygen, 100 Ω external resistance, and pH 6.5, the maximum power density (Pmax) and nitrification rate for the UMFC was 19.5 mW m−2 and 17.9 mg·(L d)−1, respectively. In addition, Pmax in the UMFC with chicken manure wastewater as substrate was 16 mW m−2, and a high chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency of 94.1% in the UMFC was achieved at 50 mM phosphate-buffered saline. Almost all ammonia in the cathode effluent was effectively degraded after biological denitrification in the UMFC cathode. The results can help to further develop pilot-scale microbial fuel cells for simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal.

Electron Fluxes in a Microbial Fuel Cell Performing Carbon and Nitrogen Removal

2009 ◽  
Vol 43 (13) ◽  
pp. 5144-5149 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bernardino Virdis ◽  
Korneel Rabaey ◽  
Zhiguo Yuan ◽  
René A. Rozendal ◽  
Jürg Keller
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

Factors affecting the performance of a single-chamber microbial fuel cell-type biological oxygen demand sensor

2013 ◽  
Vol 68 (9) ◽  
pp. 1914-1919 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gai-Xiu Yang ◽  
Yong-Ming Sun ◽  
Xiao-Ying Kong ◽  
Feng Zhen ◽  
Ying Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Response Signal ◽  
Cell Type ◽  
Single Chamber ◽  
Factors Affecting ◽  
Stable Voltage

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that exploit microorganisms as biocatalysts to degrade organic matter or sludge present in wastewater (WW), and thereby generate electricity. We developed a simple, low-cost single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC)-type biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor using carbon felt (anode) and activated sludge, and demonstrated its feasibility in the construction of a real-time BOD measurement system. Further, the effects of anodic pH and organic concentration on SCMFC performance were examined, and the correlation between BOD concentration and its response time was analyzed. Our results demonstrated that the SCMFC exhibited a stable voltage after 132 min following the addition of synthetic WW (BOD concentration: 200 mg/L). Notably, the response signal increased with an increase in BOD concentration (range: 5–200 mg/L) and was found to be directly proportional to the substrate concentration. However, at higher BOD concentrations (>120 mg/L) the response signal remained unaltered. Furthermore, we optimized the SCMFC using synthetic WW, and tested it with real WW. Upon feeding real WW, the BOD values exhibited a standard deviation from 2.08 to 8.3% when compared to the standard BOD5 method, thus demonstrating the practical applicability of the developed system to real treatment effluents.

Influence of nitrogen limitation on performance of a microbial fuel cell

2011 ◽  
Vol 63 (8) ◽  
pp. 1752-1757 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Belleville ◽  
P. J. Strong ◽  
P. H. Dare ◽  
D. J. Gapes
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Nitrogen Limitation ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Stable Operation ◽  
Treatment Technology ◽  
Fuel Cell Performance ◽  
Nitrogen Levels

We describe the operation of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) system operating on a synthetic wastewater (acetic acid), under conditions of increasing nitrogen limitation. Two MFCs were operated under feed conditions which spanned a range of TKN/COD values of 1.6–28 mg/g. Stable operation was observed in all cases, even when no ammoniacal nitrogen was added to the cell. Improved electrochemical performance (measured as power density, W/m2) was observed as nitrogen limitation was imposed on the cells. Even with no ammonium addition, continuous function of the cell was maintained, at levels consistent with operation at balanced nutrient supplementation. The work has implicated biological nitrogen fixation as a potential source of nitrogen within the MFC. Whilst this hypothesis has yet to be confirmed, the work highlights the opportunity for continuous operation of microbial fuel cells utilising wastewaters with extremely low nitrogen levels, present in pulp and paper, pharmaceutical and petrochemical industries. Further, the described increases in some of the electrochemical indices (e.g. power density) under application of nitrogen limitation may provide a new approach to increasing fuel cell performance. Finally, the lack of any need to add supplemental nitrogen to a MFC-based wastewater treatment technology holds potential for significant financial and environmental savings.

scholarly journals Effect of the ammonia concentration on the performance of wetland microbial fuel cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 269 ◽  
pp. 01002
Author(s):  
Li Wang ◽  
Jiafeng Fu ◽  
Wenlei Wang ◽  
Yutong Song ◽  
Yan Li
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Nitrogen Concentration ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Ammonia Concentration ◽  
Ammonia Nitrogen ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Removal Rates ◽  
Fixed Condition

This work explores the effect of the ammonia concentration on the wetland synthesis of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and on the production and the efficiency of sewage purification. Four ammonia concentrations from 1 to 30 mg/L have been selected. Under the fixed condition of a chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentration of 200 mg/L, a constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (CW-MFC) could be built. The results show that by selecting the optimum ammonia concentration the production of the CW-MFC could be promoted; a higher ammonia concentration (>20 mg/L) is found to inhibit the production activity of CW-MFC. In the optimum conditions, Cathode and anode thickness is 10 cm, the ammonia concentration is 10 mg/L, the COD concentration of 200 mg/L, the maximum power density of the battery is 13.6 W/m3, the corresponding current density is 148.6 A/m3 and the battery internal resistance is 270 Ω. At the ammonia nitrogen concentration of 10 mg/L, the removal rates of ammonia nitrogen and COD were up to 89.7% and 98.47% respectively. As the ammonia nitrogen concentration increased to 30 mg/L, the ammonia nitrogen and COD removal rates decreased to 74.6% and 90.69% respectively. That is, when the ammonia nitrogen concentration is 10 mg/L, CW-MFC can exhibit the best performance.

scholarly journals High Electric Production by Membraneless Microbial Fuel Cell with Up Flow Operation Using Acetate Wastewater

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 19-27
Author(s):  
Aris Mukimin ◽  
Nur Zen ◽  
Hanny Vistanty ◽  
Purwanto Agus
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Gas Diffusion ◽  
Synthetic Wastewater ◽  
Anaerobic Sludge ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Current Response ◽  
Current Voltage ◽  
Anaerobic Chamber

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a new proposed technology reported to generate renewable energy while simultaneously treating wastewater. Membraneless microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) system was developed to eliminate the requirement of membrane which is expensive and prone to clogging while enhancing electricity generation and wastewater treatment efficiency. For this purpose, a reactor was designed in two chambers and connected via three pipes (1 cm in diameter) to enhance fluid diffusion. Influent flowrate was maintained by adjusting peristaltic pump at the base of anaerobic chamber. Carbon cloth (235 cm2) was used as anode and paired with gas diffusion layer (GDL) carbon-Pt as cathode. Anaerobic sludge was filtered and used as starter feed for the anaerobic chamber. The experiment was carried out by feeding synthetic wastewater to anaerobic chamber; while current response and potential were recorded. Performance of reactor was evaluated in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Electroactive microbe was inoculated from anaerobic sludge and showed current response (0.55-0.65 mA) at 0,35 V, range of diameter 1.5-2 µm. The result of microscopics can showed three different species. The microbial performance was increased by adding ferric oxide 1 mM addition as acceptor electron. The reactor was able to generate current, voltage, and electricity power of 0.36 mA, 110 mV, and 40 mWatt (1.5 Watt/m2), respectively, while reaching COD removal and maximum coulomb efficiency (EC) of 16% and 10.18%, respectively.

scholarly journals Wastewater Treatment and Electricity Production in a Microbial Fuel Cell with Cu–B Alloy as the Cathode Catalyst

Catalysts ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 572 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paweł P. Włodarczyk ◽  
Barbara Włodarczyk
Keyword(s):  
Wastewater Treatment ◽  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Oxygen Demand ◽  
Electricity Production ◽  
Cathode Catalyst ◽  
Similar Reduction ◽  
Fuel Cell Operation

The possibility of wastewater treatment and electricity production using a microbial fuel cell with Cu–B alloy as the cathode catalyst is presented in this paper. Our research covered the catalyst preparation; measurements of the electroless potential of electrodes with the Cu–B catalyst, measurements of the influence of anodic charge on the catalytic activity of the Cu–B alloy, electricity production in a microbial fuel cell (with a Cu–B cathode), and a comparison of changes in the concentration of chemical oxygen demand (COD), NH4+, and NO3– in three reactors: one excluding aeration, one with aeration, and during microbial fuel cell operation (with a Cu–B cathode). During the experiments, electricity production equal to 0.21–0.35 mA·cm−2 was obtained. The use of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) with Cu–B offers a similar reduction time for COD to that resulting from the application of aeration. The measured reduction of NH4+ was unchanged when compared with cases employing MFCs, and it was found that effectiveness of about 90% can be achieved for NO3– reduction. From the results of this study, we conclude that Cu–B can be employed to play the role of a cathode catalyst in applications of microbial fuel cells employed for wastewater treatment and the production of electricity.

Simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal from piggery wastewater using loop configuration microbial fuel cell

2013 ◽  
Vol 48 (7) ◽  
pp. 1080-1085 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.H. Ryu ◽  
H.L. Lee ◽  
Y.P. Lee ◽  
T.S. Kim ◽  
M.K. Kim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Piggery Wastewater ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

Evaluation of microbial fuel cell coupled with aeration chamber and bio-cathode for organic matter and nitrogen removal from synthetic domestic wastewater

2009 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1409-1418 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Cha ◽  
C. Kim ◽  
S. Choi ◽  
G. Lee ◽  
G. Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cell ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cell ◽  
Power Density ◽  
Nitrogen Removal ◽  
Hydraulic Retention Time ◽  
Loading Rate ◽  
Removal Rate ◽  
Nitrate Removal ◽  
Domestic Wastewater ◽  
Carbon And Nitrogen

For simultaneous carbon and nitrogen removal via single stream, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) coupled with an aeration chamber and a bio-cathode was investigated. Without catalysts and any additional buffer, the MFC produced electricity continuously and the power density reached 1.3 W/m3 at a loading rate of 1.6 kg COD/m3 d. Simultaneously, the COD and the nitrate removal rate were 1.4 kg COD/m3 d and 67 g NO3-N/m3 d, respectively. When the hydraulic retention time was changed from 6 to 0.75 hours, the power density significantly increased from 0.2 to 10.8 W/m3 due to an increase of cathodic potential. When the aeration chamber was removed and the nitrate was injected into the cathode, the power density increased to 3.7 W/m3. At a high recirculation rate of 10 ml/min, the power density and the nitrate removal rate greatly increased to 34 W/m3 and 294 g NO3−-N/m3 d, respectively.

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