Comparative Assessment of Microbial-Fuel-Cell Operating Parameters

• Published in: Journal of environmental engineering (New York, N.Y.) N.Y.), 2020-09, Vol.146 (9)
• Main Authors: Anam, Maira, Yousaf, Sameen, Ali, Naeem
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Batch culture; Biochemical fuel cells; Biofilms; Chemical oxygen demand; Electric power generation; Electrode polarization; Electrolytes; Electrolytic cells; Fuel technology; Microorganisms; Optimization; Parametric analysis; pH effects; Process parameters; Sodium chloride; Technical Papers; Temperature; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0733-9372; 1943-7870
• DOI: 10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001772

AbstractIn this paper, simultaneous wastewater treatment and power generation of fed-batch microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been analyzed by introducing a stepwise variation in temperature, pH, and cathodic electrolyte. Different ranges of operational parameters were applied to enriched biofilm (30 days) for 2 weeks to evaluate system performance through polarization studies and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal rate. Increasing the electrolyte temperature from 37°C to 45°C resulted in higher voltage output (394.5±6.1  mV) and increased COD removal efficiency (84.5%). The cell potential of MFCs was also enhanced up to 398.9 mV by optimizing anodic pH to 7. Further increase in the current production (0.04±≤0.01  mA) was observed with cathodic electrolyte 100 mM phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)+100  mM NaCl of higher reductive strength, primarily as a result of the overcoming system proton transfer limitation. This study provides a detailed parametric analysis of operating parameters and assists in process optimization.