Self-sustained reduction of multiple metals in a microbial fuel cell–microbial electrolysis cell hybrid system

Abstract

A self-sustained hybrid bioelectrochemical system consisting of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) was developed to reduce multiple metals simultaneously by utilizing different reaction potentials. Three heavy metals representing spontaneous reaction (chromium, Cr) and unspontaneous reaction (lead, Pb and nickel, Ni) were selected in this batch-mode study. The maximum power density of the MFC achieved 189.4mWm−2, and the energy recovery relative to the energy storage circuit (ESC) was ∼450%. At the initial concentration of 100mgL−1, the average reduction rate of Cr(VI) was 30.0mgL−1d−1, Pb(II) 32.7mgL−1d−1, and Ni(II) 8.9mgL−1d−1. An electrochemical model was developed to predict the change of metal concentration over time. The power output of the MFC was sufficient to meet the requirement of the ESC and MEC, and the “self-sustained metal reduction” was achieved in this hybrid system.