Surface-to-surface biofilm transfer: a quick and reliable startup strategy for mixed culture microbial fuel cells

2016 ◽  
Vol 73 (8) ◽  
pp. 1769-1776 ◽  
Author(s):  
Andreas Vogl ◽  
Franz Bischof ◽  
Marc Wichern
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Operation Performance ◽  
Steady State Operation ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Launch Strategy ◽  
Power Densities ◽  
Anaerobic Pretreatment

The startup of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is known to be prone to failure or result in erratic performance impeding the research. The aim of this study was to advise a quick launch strategy for laboratory-scale MFCs that ensures steady operation performance in a short period of time. Different startup strategies were investigated and compared with membraneless single chamber MFCs. A direct surface-to-surface biofilm transfer (BFT) in an operating MFC proved to be the most efficient method. It provided steady power densities of 163 ± 13 mWm−2 4 days after inoculation compared to 58 ± 15 mWm−2 after 30 days following a conventional inoculation approach. The in situ BFT eliminates the need for microbial acclimation during startup and reduces performance fluctuations caused by shifts in microbial biodiversity. Anaerobic pretreatment of the substrate and addition of suspended enzymes from an operating MFC into the new MFC proved to have a beneficial effect on startup and subsequent operation. Polarization methods were applied to characterize the startup phase and the steady state operation in terms of power densities, internal resistance and power overshoot during biofilm maturation. Applying this method a well-working MFC can be multiplied into an array of identically performing MFCs.

The high enrichment of Geobacter by TiN nanoarray anode catalyst for efficient microbial fuel cells

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 7726-7735
Author(s):  
Da Liu ◽  
Weicheng Huang ◽  
Qinghuan Chang ◽  
Lu Zhang ◽  
Ruiwen Wang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Hierarchical Structure ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Dft Calculation ◽  
Experimental Results ◽  
Carbon Cloth ◽  
Anode Catalyst ◽  
High Enrichment

TiN nanoarrays, in situ grown on carbon cloth gather 97.2% of the model exoelectrogen Geobacter, greatly enhancing the MFCs' performance. The experimental results and DFT calculation certify the importance of the micro–nano-hierarchical structure.

scholarly journals Positive effects of concomitant heavy metals and their reduzates on hexavalent chromium removal in microbial fuel cells

RSC Advances ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (26) ◽  
pp. 15107-15115 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xiayuan Wu ◽  
Chunrui Li ◽  
Zuopeng Lv ◽  
Xiaowei Zhou ◽  
Zixuan Chen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heavy Metals ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Hexavalent Chromium ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Chromium Removal ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Bioelectricity Generation ◽  
Co Reduction

The cooperative cathode modification by BioAu from Au(iii) and in situ Cu(ii) co-reduction enhanced Cr(vi) removal and bioelectricity generation in MFCs.

scholarly journals In situ continuous current production from marine floating microbial fuel cells

2018 ◽  
Vol 230 ◽  
pp. 78-85 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giulia Massaglia ◽  
Valentina Margaria ◽  
Adriano Sacco ◽  
Tonia Tommasi ◽  
Simona Pentassuglia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Continuous Current ◽  
Current Production

scholarly journals The overshoot phenomenon as a function of internal resistance in microbial fuel cells

2011 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-27 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonathan Winfield ◽  
Ioannis Ieropoulos ◽  
John Greenman ◽  
Julian Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Overshoot Phenomenon

Preformance of an Electrobiochemical Slurry Reactor for the Treatment of a Soil Contaminated with Lindane

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 217-228 ◽  
Author(s):  
Beni Camacho-Pérez ◽  
Elvira Ríos-Leal ◽  
Omar Solorza-Feria ◽  
Pedro Alberto Vazquez-Landa ◽  
Josefina Barrera-Cortés ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Organic Matter ◽  
Fuel Cells ◽  
Microbial Fuel Cells ◽  
Electrochemical Impedance ◽  
Coulombic Efficiency ◽  
Membrane Resistance ◽  
Internal Resistance ◽  
Slurry Reactor ◽  
Batch Operation ◽  
Organic Matter Removal

Lindane is a chlorinated pesticide known for its toxicity and persistence in the environment. Recently, it has been proposed that soil microbial fuel cell technology (SMFC) could be applied to enhance the removal of organic matter, phenol, and petroleum hydrocarbon in contaminated soil with simultaneous electricity output. Yet, there is no information on the application to remediation of soils polluted with pesticides. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the biodegradation of lindane with simultaneous electricity generation in an electrobiochemical slurry reactor (EBCR). The EBCR was inoculated with a sulfate reducing inoculum acclimated to lindane, it was further characterized, and batch operated for 30 day at room temperature. No external carbon source was supplemented in the experiment 1; the substrate was the soluble natural organic matter (NOM) of the soil. In the experiment 2 the EBCR was supplemented with a stock solution of sucrose: sodium acetate: lactate to give a final concentration of 2g COD/L in the reactor. Results from electrochemical impedance spectroscopy characterization in the EBCR (Experiment 1) showed that the equivalent circuit had a high anodic resistance R1=2064 Ω, cathodic resistance R3 = 192 Ω; and electrolyte/membrane resistance R2 = 7?, totaling a relatively high overall internal resistance Rint of 2263 Ω. During the batch operation, the EBCR showed a 30% lindane removal efficiency along with a maximum volumetric power of 165 mW m-3.This value compared favorably with results corresponding to sediments microbial fuel cells that are used to power weather monitoring systems. The organic matter removal was very high (72% as soluble COD, NOM) whereas the coulombic efficiency was low (5.4%). The latter, although, was higher than values reported for microbial fuel cells that degraded leachate-like effluents. In Experiment 2 of the EBCR both cell characteristics and performance significantly improved. The internal resistance as determined by polarization curve was 102 Ω when the two-electrode sets were connected in parallel. During the batch operation, the EBCR showed a 78% lindane removal and a maximum power volumetric of 634 mW m-3, the organic matter removal was 76% and coulombic efficiency was 15%. Finally, it can be concluded that our EBCR showed a high lindane removal capability and mixing of the slurry phase was associated to improvement of bioremediation and electricity performances of the device.

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