Improve 3D electrode materials performance on electricity generation from livestock wastewater in microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Swine wastewater that is collected from animal husbandry has organic high ammonia nitrogen. In this study, swine wastewater is converted into electrical energy using microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Carbon fibers are respectively combined with zinc-coated metallic wires or stainless steel wires in order to form different laminated electrodes, whose influence on the electricity generation of MFCs is then examined. The 3D laminated FN/carbon composites are used as electrodes, the stable electricity voltage is 291 mV and the COD removal efficiency reaches 81％. In contrast, SS/carbon composites only contribute to a stable electricity voltage of 12.3 mV and COD removal efficiency of 33%. Based on the surface contact angle test and the scanning electron microscopy (SEM) observation, the laminated FN/carbon composites have greater hydrophilicity and wettability than the laminated SS/carbon composites, and thus have a positive influence on the electricity generation of MFCs.