Performance Improvement of MFCs by Treatment of Carbon Cloth Anode with Ultrasonic or Spent Anolyte

Abstract:

In order to improve the power generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), carbon cloth anode was treated with ultrasonic or spent anolyte in this work. The maximum power density of a single-chamber air-cathode MFC was improved from 611.5 mW/m2 to 754.3 mW/m2 and 811.7 mW/m2, and the reactor start-up time was shortened by 7.3% and 22.7% respectively after treatments of the anode with ultrasonic and spent anolyte. Polarization tests reveal that the treated anodes have a smaller electrode polarization at high current densities than the control. MFCs with the treated anodes exhibited lower internal resistances than the untreated anode, which may arise from the enhanced substrate oxidation activity and extra-cellular electron transfer efficiency on these anodes. Results from this study indicated that treatment of anode with ultrasonic or spent anolyte was a simple and effective approach for improving the performance of MFCs.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volume 815)
• Pages: 409-414
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.815.409
• Online since: October 2013
• Authors: Wei Feng Liu, Shao An Cheng
• Keywords: Anode Treatment, Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC), Power Generation, Spent Anolyte, Ultrasonic

References

[1] B.E. Logan, B. Hamelers, R. Rozendal, U. Schroder, J. Keller, S. Freguia, P. Aelterman, W. Verstraete, K. Rabaey, Microbial Fuel Cells: Methodology and Technology, Environ. Sci. Technol. 40 (2006) 5181-5192.

DOI: 10.1021/es0605016

[2] M. Zhou, M. Chi, J. Luo, H. He, T. Jin, An overview of electrode materials in microbial fuel cells, J. Power Sources 196 (2011) 4427-4435.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2011.01.012

[3] J. Wei, P. Liang, X. Huang, Recent progress in electrodes for microbial fuel cells, Bioresource Technol. 102 (2011) 9335-9344.

DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.07.019

[4] S. Cheng, B.E. Logan, Ammonia treatment of carbon cloth anodes to enhance power generation of microbial fuel cells, Electrochem. Commun. 9 (2007) 492-496.

DOI: 10.1016/j.elecom.2006.10.023

[5] K. Scott, G.A. Rimbu, K.P. Katuri, K.K. Prasad, I.M. Head, Application of Modified Carbon Anodes in Microbial Fuel Cells, Process Saf. Environ. 85 (2007) 481-488.

DOI: 10.1205/psep07018

[6] Y. Feng, Q. Yang, X. Wang, B.E. Logan, Treatment of carbon fiber brush anodes for improving power generation in air–cathode microbial fuel cells, J J. Power Sources 195 (2010) 1841-1844.

DOI: 10.1016/j.jpowsour.2009.10.030

[7] Y. Zou, C. Xiang, L. Yang, L. -X. Sun, F. Xu, Z. Cao, A mediatorless microbial fuel cell using polypyrrole coated carbon nanotubes composite as anode material, Int. J. Hydrogen Energ. 33 (2008) 4856-4862.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.06.061

[8] T. Sharma, A.L. Mohana Reddy, T.S. Chandra, S. Ramaprabhu, Development of carbon nanotubes and nanofluids based microbial fuel cell, Int. J. Hydrogen Energ. 33 (2008) 6749-6754.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.05.112

[9] D.A. Lowy, L.M. Tender, J.G. Zeikus, D.H. Park, D.R. Lovley, Harvesting energy from the marine sediment-water interface II: Kinetic activity of anode materials, Biosens. Bioelectron. 21 (2006) 2058-(2063).

DOI: 10.1016/j.bios.2006.01.033

[10] W. Liu, J. Zhang, C. Cheng, G. Tian, C. Zhang, Ultrasonic-assisted sodium hypochlorite oxidation of activated carbons for enhanced removal of Co(II) from aqueous solutions, Chem. Eng. J. 175 (2011) 24-32.

DOI: 10.1016/j.cej.2011.09.004

[11] F. Yu, J. Ji, Z. Xu, H. Liu, Effect of ultrasonic power on the structure of activated carbon and the activities of Ru/AC catalyst, Ultrasonics 44 (2006) 389-392.

DOI: 10.1016/j.ultras.2006.05.005

[12] X. Wang, S. Cheng, Y. Feng, M.D. Merrill, T. Saito, B.E. Logan, Use of Carbon Mesh Anodes and the Effect of Different Pretreatment Methods on Power Production in Microbial Fuel Cells, Environ. Sci. Technol. 43 (2009) 6870-6874.

DOI: 10.1021/es900997w

[13] H. Cai, J. Wang, Y. Bu, Q. Zhong, Treatment of carbon cloth anodes for improving power generation in a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell, J. Chem. Technol. Biot. 88 (2012) 623-628.

DOI: 10.1002/jctb.3875

[14] S. Cheng, H. Liu, B.E. Logan, Increased Power Generation in a Continuous Flow MFC with Advective Flow through the Porous Anode and Reduced Electrode Spacing, Environ. Sci. Technol. 40 (2006) 2426-2432.

DOI: 10.1021/es051652w

[15] S. Cheng, J. Wu, Air-cathode preparation with activated carbon as catalyst, PTFE as binder and nickel foam as current collector for microbial fuel cells, Bioelectrochemistry 92 (2013) 22-26.

DOI: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2013.03.001

[16] D.R. Lovley, E.J.P. Phillips, Novel Mode of Microbial Energy Metabolism: Organic Carbon Oxidation Coupled to Dissimilatory Reduction of Iron or Manganese, Appl. Environ. Microb. 54 (1988) 1472-1480.

DOI: 10.1128/aem.54.6.1472-1480.1988

[17] U. Schroder, Anodic electron transfer mechanisms in microbial fuel cells and their energy efficiency, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 9 (2007) 2619-2629.

DOI: 10.1039/b703627m

[18] J.P. Busalmen, A. Esteve-Nuñez, J.M. Feliu, Whole Cell Electrochemistry of Electricity-Producing Microorganisms Evidence an Adaptation for Optimal Exocellular Electron Transport, Environ. Sci. Technol. 42 (2008) 2445-2450.

DOI: 10.1021/es702569y

[19] C. Léger, S.J. Elliott, K.R. Hoke, L.J.C. Jeuken, A.K. Jones, F.A. Armstrong, Enzyme Electrokinetics:  Using Protein Film Voltammetry To Investigate Redox Enzymes and Their Mechanisms, Biochemistry 42 (2003) 8653-8662.

DOI: 10.1021/bi034789c

[20] K. Yokoyama, Y. Kayanuma, Cyclic Voltammetric Simulation for Electrochemically Mediated Enzyme Reaction and Determination of Enzyme Kinetic Constants, Anal. Chem. 70 (1998) 3368-3376.

DOI: 10.1021/ac9711807