Effect of hydrogen producing mixed culture on performance of microbial fuel cells

Abstract

This study examined the influence of H2-producing mixed cultures on improving power generation using air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) inoculated with heat-treated anaerobic sludge. The MFCs installed with graphite brush anode generated higher power than the MFCs with carbon cloth anode, regardless heat treatment of anaerobic sludge. When the graphite brush anode-MFCs were inoculated selectively with H2-producing bacteria by heat treatment, power production was not improved (about 490 mW/m2) in batch mode operation, but for slightly increased in carbon cloth anode-MFCs (from 0.16 to 2.0 mW/m2). Although H+/H2 produced from H2-producing bacteria can contribute to the performance of MFCs, suspended biomass did not affect the power density or potential, but the Coulombic efficiency (CE) increased. A batch test shows that propionate and acetate were used effectively for electricity generation, whereas butyrate made a minor contribution. H2-producing mixed cultures do not affect the improvement in power generation and seed sludge, regardless of the pretreatment, can be used directly for the MFC performance.