Performance of microbial electrolysis cells with bioanodes grown at different external resistances

2015 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 1129-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura Rago ◽  
Nuria Monpart ◽  
Pilar Cortés ◽  
Juan A. Baeza ◽  
Albert Guisasola
Keyword(s):  
H2 Production ◽  
Current Intensity ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Operational Parameters ◽  
External Resistance ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Start Up ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis

Bioelectrochemical systems need an anode with a high abundance of exoelectrogenic bacteria for an optimal performance. Among all possible operational parameters for an efficient enrichment, the role of external resistance in microbial fuel cell (MFC) has gained a lot of interest since it indirectly poises an anode potential, a key parameter for biofilm distribution and morphology. Thus, this work aims at investigating and discussing whether bioanodes selected at different external resistances under MFC operation present different responses under both MFC and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) operation. A better MEC performance (i.e. shorter start-up time, higher current intensity and higher H2 production rate) was obtained with an anode from an MFC developed under low external resistance. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) confirmed that a low external resistance provides an MFC anodic biofilm with the highest content of Geobacter because it allows higher current intensity, which is correlated to exoelectrogenic activity. High external resistances such as 1,000 Ω led to a slower start-up time under MEC operation.

scholarly journals Technology of Microbial Electrolysis Cell with Statistical Optimization by Response Surface Methodology for Bio-Hydrogen Production and Phosphorus Recovery

2018 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-11
Author(s):  
A.N.Z. Alshehri
Keyword(s):  
Applied Voltage ◽  
H2 Production ◽  
Statistical Optimization ◽  
Phosphorus Recovery ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
X Ray Diffraction ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Electron Microscopy Analysis ◽  
P Recovery ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis

In this study, two chamber microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) were used to investigate effect of applied voltage and concentration of influent COD on bio-hydrogen (H2) production and phosphorus (P) recovery. On the cathode chamber P as crystals were precipitated (the maximum was 94%), and verified as struvite, using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy analysis. Maximum of the H2 production rate was 0.31m3/m3/d. H2 production and P recovery have highly affected by applied voltage according to statistical optimization, while P recovery only had significantly affected by influent COD concentration. The range from 28 to 42%, was the total of energy recovery in the MEC. The current findings demonstrated capability of H2 production and P recovery using MECs technology.Int. J. Appl. Sci. Biotechnol. Vol 6(1): 1-11 

scholarly journals Lactate Oxidation Coupled to Iron or Electrode Reduction by Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA

2011 ◽  
Vol 77 (24) ◽  
pp. 8791-8794 ◽  
Author(s):  
Douglas F. Call ◽  
Bruce E. Logan
Keyword(s):  
Shewanella Oneidensis ◽  
Geobacter Sulfurreducens ◽  
Lactate Oxidation ◽  
Content Type ◽  
Comparative Analyses ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis

ABSTRACTGeobacter sulfurreducensPCA completely oxidized lactate and reduced iron or an electrode, producing pyruvate and acetate intermediates. Compared to the current produced byShewanella oneidensisMR-1,G. sulfurreducensPCA produced 10-times-higher current levels in lactate-fed microbial electrolysis cells. The kinetic and comparative analyses reported here suggest a prominent role ofG. sulfurreducensstrains in metal- and electrode-reducing communities supplied with lactate.

scholarly journals Recent Developments in Microbial Electrolysis Cell-Based Biohydrogen Production Utilizing Wastewater as a Feedstock

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8796
Author(s):  
Pooja Dange ◽  
Soumya Pandit ◽  
Dipak Jadhav ◽  
Poojhaa Shanmugam ◽  
Piyush Kumar Gupta ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Industrial Development ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Hydrogen Gas ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Hydrogen Yield ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Carbon Neutral ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis

Carbon constraints, as well as the growing hazard of greenhouse gas emissions, have accelerated research into all possible renewable energy and fuel sources. Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs), a novel technology able to convert soluble organic matter into energy such as hydrogen gas, represent the most recent breakthrough. While research into energy recovery from wastewater using microbial electrolysis cells is fascinating and a carbon-neutral technology that is still mostly limited to lab-scale applications, much more work on improving the function of microbial electrolysis cells would be required to expand their use in many of these applications. The present limiting issues for effective scaling up of the manufacturing process include the high manufacturing costs of microbial electrolysis cells, their high internal resistance and methanogenesis, and membrane/cathode biofouling. This paper examines the evolution of microbial electrolysis cell technology in terms of hydrogen yield, operational aspects that impact total hydrogen output in optimization studies, and important information on the efficiency of the processes. Moreover, life-cycle assessment of MEC technology in comparison to other technologies has been discussed. According to the results, MEC is at technology readiness level (TRL) 5, which means that it is ready for industrial development, and, according to the techno-economics, it may be commercialized soon due to its carbon-neutral qualities.

scholarly journals Microbial electrolysis cells for electromethanogenesis: Materials, configurations and operations

2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (1) ◽  
pp. 200484-0
Author(s):  
Aditya Amrut Pawar ◽  
Anandakrishnan Karthic ◽  
Sangmin Lee ◽  
Soumya Pandit ◽  
Sokhee P. Jung
Keyword(s):  
Anaerobic Digestion ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Agricultural Waste ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Untreated Wastewater ◽  
Species Formation ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Animal Excreta ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis

Anaerobic digestion is a traditional method of producing methane-containing biogas by utilizing the methanogenic conversion of organic matter like agricultural waste and animal excreta. Recently, the application of microbial electrolysis cell (MECs) technology to a traditional anaerobic digestion system has been extensively studied to find new opportunities in increasing wastewater treatability and methane yield and producing valuable chemicals. The finding that both anodic and cathodic bacteria can synthesize methane has led to the efforts of optimizing multiple aspects like microbial species, formation of biofilms, substrate sources and electrode surface for higher production of the combustible compound. MECs are very fascinating because of its ability to uptake a wide variety of raw materials including untreated wastewater (and its microbial content as biocatalysts). Extensive work in this field has established different systems of MECs for hydrogen production and biodegradation of organic compounds. This review is dedicated to explaining the operating principles and mechanism of the MECs for electromethanogenesis using different biochemical pathways. Emphasis on single- and double-chambered MECs along with reactor components is provided for a comprehensive description of the technology. Methane production using hydrogen evolution reaction and nanocatalysts has also been discussed.

scholarly journals Validity and Reproducibility of Various Linear Sweep Voltammetry Tests of Anode and Cathode Electrodes in Microbial Electrolysis Cells

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hyungwon Chai ◽  
Bonyoung Koo ◽  
Sunghoon Son ◽  
Sokhee P. Jung
Keyword(s):  
Counter Electrode ◽  
Steel Wire ◽  
Linear Sweep Voltammetry ◽  
Practical Implementation ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Linear Sweep ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis ◽  
Effective Development

Electrode is a key component in a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) and it needs significant improvement for practical implementation of MEC. For effective development of electrode technology, accurate and reproducible analytical methods are very important. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) is an essential analytical method for evaluating electrode performance; however, it has not been firmly established yet in the MEC field. In this study, biological brush (BB), abiotic brush (AB), Pt wire (PtW), stainless steel wire (SSW) and mesh (SSM)) were tested to explore the most suitable counter electrode in different medium conditions. Coefficient of variation (CV) for Imax of LSV were comparatively analyzed. In BB-anode LSV, SSW (0.48%) and SSM (2.17%) showed higher reproducibility as a counter electrode. In SSM-cathode LSV, BB (1.76%) and PtW (2.01%) produced more reproducible results. In the Ni-AC-SSM-cathode LSV, PtW (3.54%) and BB (8.81%) produced more reproducible result. It shows electrode used in the operation is an appropriate counter electrode in the acetate-added condition. However, in the absence of acetate, PtW (1.24%) and BB (1.71%) produced more reproducible results in SSM cathode and PtW (0.61%) and SSW (1.21%) did in the Ni-AC-SSM-cathode, showing PtW is an appropriate counter electrode. These results also shows that PtW is an appropriate counter electrode in cathode LSV.

scholarly journals Sustainable Syntheses and Sources of Nanomaterials for Microbial Fuel/Electrolysis Cell Applications: An Overview of Recent Progress

Processes ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (7) ◽  
pp. 1221
Author(s):  
Domenico Frattini ◽  
Gopalu Karunakaran ◽  
Eun-Bum Cho ◽  
Yongchai Kwon
Keyword(s):  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Noble Metals ◽  
Raw Materials ◽  
Nanoparticle Synthesis ◽  
Economic Feasibility ◽  
Electrolysis Cell ◽  
Microbial Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Electrolysis Cells ◽  
Bioenergy Generation ◽  
Valuable Compounds

The use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is quickly spreading in the fields of bioenergy generation and wastewater treatment, as well as in the biosynthesis of valuable compounds for microbial electrolysis cells (MECs). MFCs and MECs have not been able to penetrate the market as economic feasibility is lost when their performances are boosted by nanomaterials. The nanoparticles used to realize or decorate the components (electrodes or the membrane) have expensive processing, purification, and raw resource costs. In recent decades, many studies have approached the problem of finding green synthesis routes and cheap sources for the most common nanoparticles employed in MFCs and MECs. These nanoparticles are essentially made of carbon, noble metals, and non-noble metals, together with a few other few doping elements. In this review, the most recent findings regarding the sustainable preparation of nanoparticles, in terms of syntheses and sources, are collected, commented, and proposed for applications in MFC and MEC devices. The use of naturally occurring, recycled, and alternative raw materials for nanoparticle synthesis is showcased in detail here. Several examples of how these naturally derived or sustainable nanoparticles have been employed in microbial devices are also examined. The results demonstrate that this approach is valuable and could represent a solid alternative to the expensive use of commercial nanoparticles.

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