Abstract

ABSTRACTPhenol biodegradation was evaluated in batch and continuous flow microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In batch-operated MFCs, biodegradation of 100–1000 mg L−1 phenol was four to six times faster when graphite granules were used instead of rods (3.5–4.8 mg L−1 h−1 vs 0.5–0.9 mg L−1 h−1). Similarly maximum phenol biodegradation rates in continuous MFCs with granular and single-rod electrodes were 11.5 and 0.8 mg L−1 h−1, respectively. This superior performance was also evident in terms of electrochemical outputs, whereby continuous flow MFCs with granular graphite electrodes achieved maximum current and power densities (3444.4 mA m−3 and 777.8 mW m−3) that were markedly higher than those with single-rod electrodes (37.3 mA m−3 and 0.8 mW m−3). Addition of neutral red enhanced the electrochemical outputs to 5714.3 mA m−3 and 1428.6 mW m−3. Using the data generated in the continuous flow MFC, biokinetic parameters including μm, KS, Y and Ke were determined as 0.03 h−1, 24.2 mg L−1, 0.25 mg cell (mg phenol)−1 and 3.7 × 10−4 h−1, respectively. Access to detailed kinetic information generated in MFC environmental conditions is critical in the design, operation and control of large-scale treatment systems utilizing MFC technology.

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