Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are the rising modern equipment for the generation of bioelectricity from organic matters. In this study, MFCs in two formats are assembled and concurrently operated for a 30-day period in a batch mode manner. Natural biowaste cattle dung slurry with mediators is used as a substrate persistently for the enhancement of electron transfer rate and additionally for the augmentation of required electrical parameters. Under similar conditions, the MFC setups are experimented with a variety of anode-cathode material combinations, namely carbon-carbon, copper-carbon, and zinc-carbon. The performance of these MFCs during the testing period is evaluated independently and compared by plotting polarization data generated by them. It is revealed that maximum current and power densities are achieved from all these MFCs and the best attained values are 1858 mA/m2 and 1465 mW/m2, respectively, for the novel single-chamber zinc-carbon electrode MFC. The corresponding findings present that the MFC with zinc-carbon electrodes has the better power density than other MFCs. Being conductive and higher standard potential metal electrodes have improved the capability to act in place of carbon family electrodes for MFC-based power applications. Although the MFC power generation is low, but modifications in configurations, electrodes, microbe-rich biowaste, mediators, and power management may enhance the power output to a significant level for commercialization of this technology. The unique feature of this research is to explore the pertinent use of conductive metal electrodes to enhance the power generation capability of MFCs through biowaste as an alternative power source for small applications. The novelty of this research is presented through usage of conductive metal electrodes for the performance analysis of MFCs.
Highlights
The consumption of energy has augmented exponentially during the first decade of the 21st century and is continuing to do so. e dire need of the present scenario is to meet the ever-increasing energy demand and identify more and all feasible sources of energy
It is common knowledge that fossil fuels are likely to be exhausted and indiscriminate exploitation of fossil fuels have posed a threat to the biological life on the planet via their secondary effects such as global warming and environmental pollution [2]. e need for alternatives to fossil fuels have encouraged researchers to seek alternative sources for power, which can be harnessed by utilizing modern tools of technology developed in recent years and in a better manner than in the past [3, 4]
Total lignocellulose material has been estimated by NDF and ADF is used to estimate the content of lignin and cellulose, which are the prime criteria for energy conversion technique
Summary
The consumption of energy has augmented exponentially during the first decade of the 21st century and is continuing to do so. e dire need of the present scenario is to meet the ever-increasing energy demand and identify more and all feasible sources of energy. A comprehensive review on MFCs and plant MFCs being renewable energy sources has presented that it has been developed for many applications such as waste water treatment, biosensors, biofuels, and contaminated sediments [11]. A comprehensive review on the MFC technology presented various processes, utilization, and recent developments in usage of various carbon electrodes with different substrates and bacterial species [13]. Is analysis indicates that cattle dung must be considered for energy generation through MFCs. us, the present study purposefully aims to investigate the performance parameters of cattle dung-based MFCs with carbon and metal electrodes. E aim behind this study has opened up the way for novelty of this research as an experimental work for the performance analysis of technical parameters of cattle dung-based MFCs in different designs with commonly used carbon and metal electrodes Us, the present study purposefully aims to investigate the performance parameters of cattle dung-based MFCs with carbon and metal electrodes. e aim behind this study has opened up the way for novelty of this research as an experimental work for the performance analysis of technical parameters of cattle dung-based MFCs in different designs with commonly used carbon and metal electrodes
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