Steady state electric power generation in up-flow microbial fuel cell using the estimated time span method for bacteria growth domestic wastewater

Abstract

abstract The parameters affecting steady state power generation for a lab-scale up-flow microbialfuel cell (UMFC) were studied. Single batch of domestic wastewater substrate was initiallyfed to the UMFC to determine the time span of maximum anaerobic bacterial activity bymonitoring their lag, growth and death phases. This was performed indirectly by recordingthe variations in volumetric electric power with time. The UMFC was then operated usingthe batches of substrate, fed sequentially from anaerobic basins when the previouslyestimated time span showed the maximum activity of bacteria in the basin. At themaximum bacterial activity, the UMFC could continuously generate constant volumetricpower of approximately 5.31 0.12 W m 3 . The effects of organic loading rate, flow rateand pH of the domestic wastewater on the voltage and volumetric electric current werealso investigated. The results showed that increasing the organic loading rate and flow rateat neutral pH enhanced the voltage. A higher power could be generated using the UMFC fordomestic wastewater treatment, as compared to the other works.a 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.