Modeling the influence of substrate concentration, anode electrode surface area and external resistance in a start-up on the performance of microbial fuel cell

Abstract

In the present research, the conduction-based model was used for investigating influence of anode surface area, substrate concentration and start-up method on the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFC), utilized in wastewater treatment systems. Maximum produced power increased by about 9% when external resistance enhanced from 100 to 1000 Ω in the start-up. The results show that power increased rapidly (from 0.024 to 3.66 mW) with increasing the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) of substrate from 0.01–2 g/L. However, when COD was increased from 2 to14 g/L, produced power remained almost constant (3.66–3.81 mW). The surface area of the anode had a different effect on power and power density. Produced power enhanced by increasing surface area of the anode. However, the effect of surface area of anode on power density was different and had an optimum value, which increased in higher COD concentrations.