Abstract
The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is emerging as a potential technology for extracting energy from wastes/wastewater while they are treated. The major hindrance in MFC commercialization is lower power generation due to the sluggish transfer of electrons from the biocatalyst (bacteria) to the anode surface and inefficient microbial consortia for treating real complex wastewater. To overcome these concerns, a traditional carbon felt (CF) electrode modification was carried out by iron oxide (Fe3O4) nanoparticles via facile dip-and-dry methods, and mixed sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRBs) were utilized as efficient microbial consortia. In the modified CF electrode with SRBs, a considerable improvement in the bioelectrochemical operation was observed, where the power density (309 ± 13 mW/m2) was 1.86 times higher than bare CF with SRBs (166 ± 11 mW/m2), suggesting better bioelectrochemical performance of an SRB-enriched Fe3O4@CF anode in the MFC. This superior activity can be assigned to the lower charge transfer resistance, higher conductance, and increased number of catalytic sites of the Fe3O4@CF electrode. The SRB-enriched Fe3O4@CF anode also assists in enhancing MFC performance in terms of COD removal (>75%), indicating efficient biodegradability of tannery wastewater and a higher electron transfer rate from SRBs to the conductive anode. These findings demonstrate that a combination of the favorable properties of nanocomposites such as Fe3O4@CF anodes and efficient microbes for treating complex wastes can encourage new directions for renewable energy–related applications.
Highlights
The current challenges faced by the world regarding sustainable energy production and water pollution require the development of novel technologies that can aim to amicably solve these problems (Luderer et al, 2019; Sun et al, 2020)
The FT-IR spectrum of synthesized nanoparticles was obtained in the range of 4,000–600 cm−1 to elucidate the formation of the nanomaterial and its purity
SEM images at different magnification levels exhibit that nanoparticles of very small size and uniform spherical morphology have been produced through a hydrothermal process
Summary
The current challenges faced by the world regarding sustainable energy production and water pollution require the development of novel technologies that can aim to amicably solve these problems (Luderer et al, 2019; Sun et al, 2020). MFCs can aid in further accelerating the biodegradation of tannery pollutants, as the MFC has an infinite terminal electron acceptor (anode) in comparison to exhaustible electron acceptors like O2 and NO3−, with electricity production as an added benefit (Chen et al, 2016). To this end, local tannery wastewater from Sialkot (an industrial city), Pakistan, was evaluated for treatment in the MFC system. Sulfate was first reduced to sulfite and reoxidized to sulfate by forming thiosulfate as an important intermediate or by direct sulfite oxidation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
