Performance of a microbial fuel cell-based biosensor for online monitoring in an integrated system combining microbial fuel cell and upflow anaerobic sludge bed reactor

• Published in: Bioresource technology 2016-10, Vol.218, p.286-293
• Main Authors: Jia, Hui, Yang, Guang, Wang, Jie, Ngo, Huu Hao, Guo, Wenshan, Zhang, Hongwei, Zhang, Xinbo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Anaerobiosis; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Bioreactors; Biosensing Techniques; Biosensor; biosensors; electric potential difference; electricity; Microbial fuel cell; microbial fuel cells; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity; Sewage - chemistry; Signal feedback; sludge; Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket; upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor; Water Purification - instrumentation; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.06.064

[Display omitted] •A novel MFC-UASB system was established for real-time online monitoring rapidly and steady.•Better signal feedback sensitivity and reproducibility were achieved when COD concentration changed.•The MFC-based biosensor through the electric signal feedback on the concentration was more sensitivity than by pH. A hybrid system integrating a microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based biosensor with upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) was investigated for real-time online monitoring of the internal operation of the UASB reactor. The features concerned were its rapidity and steadiness with a constant operation condition. In addition, the signal feedback mechanism was examined by the relationship between voltage and time point of changed COD concentration. The sensitivity of different concentrations was explored by comparing the signal feedback time point between the voltage and pH. Results showed that the electrical signal feedback was more sensitive than pH and the thresholds of sensitivity were S=3×10−5V/(mg/L) and S=8×10−5V/(mg/L) in different concentration ranges, respectively. Although only 0.94% of the influent COD was translated into electricity and applied for biosensing, this integrated system indicated great potential without additional COD consumption for real-time monitoring.