Performance Of Microbial Fuel Cells Research Articles

Maximizing power generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells: the role of LiTa0.5Nb0.5O3/g-C3N4 photocatalyst

AbstractMicrobial fuel cells (MFCs) have attracted a great deal of attention as a promising technology for recovering electricity from organic substances by harnessing the metabolic activities of microorganisms. The objective of this study is to assess the efficacy of a LiTa0.5Nb0.5O3/g-C3N4 (LTN/g-C3N4) heterojunction as a photocathode catalyst within a single-chamber microbial fuel cell operating under both light irradiation and dark conditions. X-Ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDS) were used to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the composite catalyst, revealing its exceptional purity and unique properties. After 120 h of exposure to visible light, the maximal power density of the MFC containing LTN/g-C3N4-modified carbon cloth was determined to be 667.7 mW/m3. The power density achieved with the presence of light was approximately three times greater than the power density obtained without light in the MFC (235.64 mW/m3). In addition, the study determined that the removal efficiencies of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were 88.4% and 66.5% when exposed to light and in the absence of light, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of the non-precious LTN/g-C3N4 photocatalyst as a viable alternative for effective wastewater treatment and power generation in microbial fuel cells with a single chamber configuration.

Microbial Fuel Cells Performance Evaluation through the Application of Fuzzy Logic

Objective: This work aimed to employ fuzzy logic combined with the design of experiments technique to statistically evaluate how the microbial fuel cells operating parameters influence their performance. Theoretical Framework: Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are a technology of interest in the current scenario as they allow simultaneously promoting the biotreatment of waste and the bio generation of electrical energy. Methodology: Through a bibliographical search based on publications on Google Scholar platform over the last 10 years, it was noticed that anode area, external electrical resistance and reactor volume are the most reported input parameters in MFC research and current density and power density are the output parameters most frequently portrayed in these studies, which is why these variables were selected for statistical investigation. Results and Discussion: The results showed that, for both outputs studied, reactor volume and anode area showed a positive effect, while the external electrical resistance showed a negative effect. It was also possible to develop mathematical models that indicated the relationship between the input and output variables studied, with statistical significance for power density model (R2 = 86%). Originality: Applying computational simulations and subsequent design of experiments to obtain results in accordance with those obtained experimentally in the laboratory.

Asymmetric reactors as an innovative approach for optimum microbial fuel cells performance

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) exhibit asymmetric overpotentials and redox potentials/rates at the cathode and anode. However, the impact of this asymmetric on power density and anode microbial community remains poorly understood. In this study, asymmetric reactors were designed for H-type MFCs to investigate this configuration. Contrary to the initial expectation of increased MFC power output with larger cathode volumes, it was unexpectedly found that the small-cathode reactor outperformed the large-cathode reactor, achieving a 61 % increase in maximum power density. Electrochemical characterization revealed a slightly lower charge transfer resistance (29.34 Ω) in the small-cathode reactor with carbon-felt anode biofilm in PBS. Moreover, 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that the small-cathode reactor harbored a higher proportion of anaerobic bacteria (83 %), lower species diversity, and a higher abundance of exoelectrogens. Additionally, higher abundances of key gene modules (top eight), such as quinone oxidoreductase and citrate cycle, were observed in the small-cathode reactor. The anode biofilms in both reactors also synthesized some vitamins, such as menaquinone and thiamine. Furthermore, compared to the large-cathode reactor, each set of the small-cathode reactor saved ¥ 20, 23 g of borosilicate, and 55 mL of cathode electrolytes. This study sheds light on the interplay between reactor conformation and performance, contributing to the development of low-cost, high-performance MFCs for real field conditions.

Impact of CeO2 modified cathode and PANI modified anode on tannery wastewater fed microbial fuel cell performance

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is getting acceptance as an emphatic, sustainable and energy efficient alternative of conventional wastewater treatment strategies. MFCs utilize exoelectrogens as biocatalysts to degrade the complex organic substances present in wastewater with simultaneous power generation. The present study was aimed at investigating the impact of MFC electrode’s modification with CeO2 nanoparticles and polyaniline (PANI) on its performance characteristics. The hydrothermal approach was employed for the synthesis of CeO2 nanoparticles followed by their deposition on carbon cloth (CC) as MFC cathode, Whereas MFC’s anode i.e., CF/NF was modified by in-situe deposition of PANI. The synthesized material was characterized with FTIR, XRD, SEM, EDX and BET analysis. The experiments were performed using dual chambered MFC fed with leather tannery wastewater using modified and unmodified electrodes. The highest outcomes of power density and corresponding current density were observed with PANI@NF composite anode and CeO2@CC as cathode i.e., 279.3 mW/m2 corresponding to the current density of 581.8 mA/m2. The same MFC electrode configuration resulted in highest COD reduction, i.e., 80 % and coulombic efficiency of 19.86 %. On the other hand, MFC equipped with PANI@CF anode and CeO2@CC cathode also displayed comparable results. It was ascertained that modification of NF/CF anode with PANI (conductive polymer) and CC cathode with CeO2 nanoparticles have significantly improved the overall MFC operational performance regarding tannery wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation.

Eco-friendly, low-cost, and antibacterial PEM boosts microbial fuel cell performance: Power generation and wastewater treatment

The performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) relies significantly on the proton exchange membrane (PEM). While effective, commercial options like Nafion 117 are costly and possess inherent weaknesses. Improving methods of PEMs are generally used, requiring spending energy and money and causing harmful and toxic chemicals to enter the environment. This study introduces an innovative approach by enhancing sulfonated polyether sulfone (SPES) properties using Falcaria vulgaris extract, offering a simple, environmentally friendly, cost-effective solution. The resulting green functionalized SPES membranes (GFSPESs) were evaluated in dual-chamber MFCs for energy production and textile wastewater treatment. SPES membranes were fabricated through a phase inversion process and subsequently functionalized using dip-coating, heating, and UV irradiation. Comprehensive analysis, including FTIR, EDS, SEM, and XPS, investigated the physicochemical structure of the PEMs. The plant extract exhibited notable benefits, enhancing hydrophilicity, proton conductivity, and antibacterial capability of the PEMs. The MFC with GFSPES-12 achieved a peak power output of 86.3 mW/m2 and a maximum current of 327 mA/m2, surpassing the performance of Nafion 117 and the bare SPES membranes. GFSPES-12 also exhibited a maximum ion exchange capacity (1.89 meq/g) and proton conductivity (2.98 mS/cm). In textile wastewater treatment, the GFSPESs demonstrated improved COD removal (96.12 %) and higher coulombic efficiency (42.23 %). Notably, GFSPES-12 exhibited an antibacterial efficiency exceeding 93.5 %. These findings affirm the efficient functionality of GFSPES membranes in dual-chamber MFCs, offering a promising and sustainable alternative for energy production and wastewater treatment.

Unveiling microbial degradation of triclosan: Degradation mechanism, pathways, and catalyzing clean energy

Emerging organic contaminants present in the environment can be biodegraded in anodic biofilms of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). However, there is a notable gap existing in deducing the degradation mechanism, intermediate products, and the microbial communities involved in degradation of broad-spectrum antibiotic such as triclosan (TCS). Herein, the possible degradation of TCS is explored using TCS acclimatized biofilms in MFCs. 95% of 5 mgL−1 TCS are been biodegraded within 84 h with a chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction of 62% in an acclimatized-MFC (A-MFC). The degradation of TCS resulted in 8 intermediate products including 2,4 -dichlorophenol which gets further mineralized within the system. Concurrently, the 16S rRNA V3–V4 sequencing revealed that there is a large shift in microbial communities after TCS acclimatization and MFC operation. Moreover, 30 dominant bacterial species (relative intensity >1%) are identified in the biofilm in which Sulfuricurvum kujiense, Halomonas phosphatis, Proteiniphilum acetatigens, and Azoarcus indigens significantly contribute to dihydroxylation, ring cleavage and dechlorination of TCS. Additionally, the MFC was able to produce 818 ± 20 mV voltage output with a maximum power density of 766.44 mWm−2. The antibacterial activity tests revealed that the biotoxicity of TCS drastically reduced in the MFC effluent, signifying the non-toxic nature of the degraded products. Hence, this work provides a proof−of−concept strategy for sustainable mitigation of TCS in wastewaters with enhanced bioelectricity generation.

Promoting bioremediation of brewery wastewater, production of bioelectricity and microbial community shift by sludge microbial fuel cells using biochar as anode

Seeking low-cost and eco-friendly electrode catalyst of microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactor has received extensive attention in recent decades. In this study, a sludge MFC was coupled with biochar-modified-anode (BC-300, BC-400, and BC-500) for actual brewery wastewater treatment. The physicochemical properties of biochar largely depended on the pyrolysis temperature, further affecting the removal efficiency of wastewater indicators. BC-400 MFC proved to be efficient for TN and NH4+-N removal, while the maximum removal efficiencies of COD and TP were achieved by BC-500 MFC, reaching respectively 97.14 % and 89.67 %. Biochar could promote the degradation of dissolved organic matter (DOM) in wastewater by increasing the electrochemical performances of MFC. The maximum output voltage of BC-400 MFC reached 410.24 mV, and the maximum electricity generation of 108.05 mW/m2 was also obtained, surpassing the pristine MFC (BCC-MFC) by 4.67 times. High-throughput sequencing results illustrated that the enrichment of electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) and functional bacteria (Longilinea, Denitratisoma, and Pseudomonas) in BC-MFCs, contributed to pollutants degradation and electron transfer. Furthermore, biochar affected directly the electrical conductivity of wastewater, simultaneously changing microbial community composition of MFC anode. Considering both enhanced removal efficiency of pollutants and increased power generation, the results of this study would offer technical reference for the application of biochar as MFC catalyst for brewery wastewater treatment.

Shewanella baltica in a Microbial Fuel Cell for Sensing of Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) of Wastewater

Geobacter and Shewanella are the most characterized electroactive bacteria genera. Unlike genus Geobacter that is strictly anaerobic, Shewanella can grow under both oxic and anoxic environments and is capable of metabolizing a wider substrate range. In the present study, the use of strain Shewanella baltica 20 in MFC-based biosensor for BOD monitoring is reported. The S. baltica strain 20 was isolated from river sediment in Hungary. The bacterium could form a biofilm, oxidized glucose, and transferred electrons to produce current when they were enriched on the anode in an air cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC). The tested MFC system demonstrated linearity in the current response to glucose from 50 to 300 mg/L. The electrical efficiency was determined from the polarization curve using the method of Varying Circuit Resistance (VCR) with an external load probed from 10 Ω to 220 kΩ. The maximum power production was 1.2 mW/m2 at an external load of 40 kΩ. Studying the effect of external resistors on the MFC performance showed that the MFC reached higher saturation for 500 mg/L of glucose at lower resistances of 100 and 470 Ω, in comparison to 300 mg/L at 1000 Ω. The results show that the response of the MFC can potentially be tuned by adjusting the external load. Our preliminary study suggests that Shewanella baltica strain 20 may be used for online monitoring of BOD (biological oxygen demand) in wastewater.

MFC Performance with Additional Micronutrients in Food Waste Substrate

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) are the one of utilization of waste for renewable energy continues to be developed. According to the FAO, 32% of all food for human consumption is discarded about 1.3 billion tonnes per year. In this study, Microbial Fuel Cells used an organic source in the form of food waste that had been hydrolyzed by Aspergillus oryzae, Aspergillus aculeatus, and Candida rugosa. The results of the hydrolysis are entered into the MFC system. In the MFC system it is mixed with Sidoarjo mud and Shewanella oneidensis MR-1, then put into a Single Chamber microbial fuel cell (SC-MFC) to generate electricity. In this research, also added micronutrients (Mg2+, Ni2+, Cu2+, Ca2+, Pb2+, Co2+, Cd2+, Cr2+, and Zn2+) to increase the metabolic of Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 bacteria, so can elevate electric currents. electrons and protons are produced by microorganisms by changing organic compounds in the substrate. The results showed that the best power density was 6.652 W/m2 with BOD 89.362% and COD removal 77.273% achieved with a ratio of food waste to water of 2:1 M. Food hydrolysis is capable of hydrolyzing 40% food waste into glucose within 24 hours. The greatest percentage of glucose decreased was achieved by Cobalt micronutrient addition with 77% of glucose decreased. Therefore, MFC can be greatly enhance food waste degradation to become a carbon source in a microbial fuel cell for electricity production.

Performance of Dual Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells with Waste Water for Power Production and Treatment

Abstract: Dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have garnered significant attention in recent years due to their promising potential for sustainable energy generation from organic waste. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advancements, challenges, and future prospects of dual-chamber MFC technology. The paper begins with an introduction to the principles of microbial fuel cells and the rationale behind the dual-chamber configuration. It discusses the design considerations including electrode materials, membrane selection, and reactor configurations, highlighting recent innovations aimed at enhancing performance and scalability. Key advancements in dual-chamber MFCs are reviewed, focusing on improvements in power output, microbial community dynamics, and substrate utilization. Strategies such as microbial enrichment, biofilm engineering, and electrode modifications are discussed in detail, showcasing their impact on MFC performance and stability. Furthermore, the review explores the application of dual-chamber MFCs in various fields including wastewater treatment, bioenergy productions.

The effect of different temperature in membrane-less microbial fuel cell under series and parallel circuit mode for power generation and bioremediation

Demand for energy resources is increasing rapidly, leading to excessive exploitation of fossil fuels. The production of chicken, which is a popular source of protein, generates a huge amount of waste. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) have the potential to generate clean, sustainable, and environmentally benign electricity by utilizing electrogenic bacteria present in chicken manure (CM), while also decreasing the amount of waste. The present study was conducted to assess the effect of different temperatures and numbers of chambers in series and parallel circuits on the performance of membrane-less MFCs (ML-MFCs). The central composite design (CCD) based on response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the performance of ML-MFCs in series and parallel circuits, with a focus on chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency (R2 = 0.958 and 0.967), biomass (R2 = 0.995 and 0.836), and power density (R2 = 0.958 and 0.825). The study revealed that the highest COD removal (series: 89.554%, parallel: 84.994%), biomass (series: 1.095 mg/L, parallel: 2.267 mg/L), and power density (series: 0.551 W/m2, parallel: 0.360 W/m2) were achieved when the pre-treatment temperature was 40 °C. The best ML-MFC condition was plotted on the polarization curve in order to analyze the nature of ML-MFC. Findings of this study suggest that ML-MFCs have great potential for electricity generation and waste reduction, and the optimization of operating conditions can enhance their performance.

Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance: anode modification with reduced graphene oxide and iron(III) for improved electricity generation

Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance: anode modification with reduced graphene oxide and iron(III) for improved electricity generation

The Effect of Electricity Generation on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells for Anammox

The Anammox anaerobic fluidized bed microbial fuel cell (Anammox AFB-MFC) exhibits exceptional performance in both nitrogen removal and electricity generation, effectively eliminating ammonia nitrogen (NH4+-N) and nitrite nitrogen (NO2−-N) pollutants. This technology offers the advantages of high efficiency in nitrogen removal and low electricity consumption. By coupling an AFB with an MFC, the Anammox AFB-MFC was developed through the introduction of anaerobic ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) into MFC. Anammox AFB-MFC’s nitrogen removal ability was found to be superior at an influent COD concentration of 200 mg/L, as determined by a study conducted under unchanged conditions. Subsequently, an open and closed-circuit experiment was performed on the Anammox AFB-MFC system while maintaining a COD concentration of 200 mg/L in the influent. Remarkably, the reactor exhibited significantly enhanced nitrogen removal performance when electricity generation occurred. Throughout the entire experimental process, the reactor consistently maintained high nitrogen removal efficiency and electricity production performance. Under optimal experimental conditions, the reactor achieved a remarkable nitrogen removal rate of 91.8% and an impressive output voltage of 439.1 mV. Additionally, the generation of Anammox bioparticles in MFC significantly contributed to efficient pollutant removal. This study elucidates the impact of organic matter on both the nitrogen removal and electricity generation capabilities of Anammox AFB-MFC, as well as highlights the synergistic effect between MFC electricity generation and nitrogen removal in the reactor.

PDA-Fe3O4 decorated carbon felt anode enhancing electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cells: Effect of electrode materials on electroactive biofilm

Anode modification is an effective strategy for enhancing the electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC). However, the impacts of the modified materials on anode biofilm development during MFC operation have been less studied. We prepared a novel PDA-Fe3O4-CF composite anode by coating original carbon felt anode (CF) with polydopamine (PDA) and Fe3O4 nanoparticles. The composite anode material was characterized by excellent hydrophilicity and electrical conductivity, and the anodic biofilm exhibited fast start-up, higher biomass, and more uniform biofilm layer after MFC operation. The MFC reactor assembled with the composite anode achieved a maximum power density of 608 mW m−2 and an output voltage of 586 mV, which were 316.4% and 72.4% higher than the MFC with the original CF anode, respectively. Microbial community analysis indicated that the modified anode biofilm had a higher relative abundance of exoelectrogen species in comparison to the unmodified anode. The PICRUSt data revealed that the anodic materials may affect the bioelectrochemical performance of the biofilm by influencing the expression levels of key enzyme genes involved in biofilm extracellular polymer (EPS) secretion and extracellular electron transfer (EET). The growth of the anodic biofilm would exert positive or negative influences on the efficiency of electricity production and electron transfer of the MFCs at different operating stages. This work expands the knowledge of the role that anodic materials play in the development and electrochemical performance of anodic biofilm in MFCs.

Fe3C-modified porous carbon as anode electrocatalyst for improving extracellular electron transfer and removing Cr(VI) in microbial fuel cells

The anode, as a host site for electricigens, is regarded as an important determinant of the power generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which is confined by the sluggish extracellular electron transfer (EET) at the electricigens/anode interface. In this study, a novel spindle-shaped material, Fe-modified porous carbon (Fe3C/PC), was rationally designed to boost the efficiency of EET. As expected, the MFCs equipped with the as-synthesized Fe3C/PC@CF anode exhibited excellent electrocatalytic activity for charge transfer and achieved much higher power density (1425 mW m−2). Ultimately, mature MFCs would be used to treat real effluent and Cr(VI) sewage. The excellent performance of MFCs was due to the active surface area provided by the porous carbon in Fe3C/PC@CF, which was conducive to electricigens adhesion, and the Fe3C doping provided abundant catalytic active sites for the anode. This work provides a new concept for the design of high performance anode electrocatalysts for MFCs and wastewater treatment.

Enhancing the Proton Exchange Membrane in Tubular Air-Cathode Microbial Fuel Cells through a Hydrophobic Polymer Coating on a Hydrogel.

The usage time of air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is significantly influenced by the moisture content within the proton exchange membrane (PEM). Therefore, enhancing the water retention capability of the PEM by applying a hydrophobic polymer coating to its surface has extended the PEM's usage time by three times and increased MFCs' operational duration by 66%. Moreover, the hydrophobic nature of the polymer coating reduces contamination on the PEM and prevents anode liquid from permeating into the air cathode. Towards the end of MFC operation, the internal resistance of the MFC is reduced by 45%. The polymer coating effectively maintained the oxygen reduction reaction activity in the cathode. The polymer coating's ability to restrict oxygen transmembrane diffusion is demonstrated by experimental data showing a significant decrease in oxygen diffusion coefficient due to its presence. The degradation efficiency of the chemical oxygen demand from 16% to 35% increased by a factor of one.

Iron-doped cross-linked puffed carbon as capacitive anode for the enhancement of bioelectron storage capacity in microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) can utilize the metabolism of electroactive microorganisms to remove organic pollutants from wastewater, and the application of capacitive anodes can enhance the power generation capacity of MFC and the energy storage capacity of bioelectronics. This research aimed to create a capacitive anode with a large specific surface area and excellent electrical conductivity. To achieve this aim, iron-doped cross-linked puffed carbon (CPC–Fe) was prepared for the modification of carbon cloth (CC) substrates by a simple one-step expansion carbonization method using FeCl3·6H2O and maltose as raw materials. The surface structure characterization confirms the successful incorporation of Fe atoms, with Fe3O4 accounting for 79.61%. Fe3O4 exhibits excellent specific capacitance characteristics and can also serve as a good conductor for the transmission or reception of electrons generated by electroactive bacteria. Furthermore, the mesoporous volume of CPC-Fe significantly increases, which contributes to the enhancement of the specific capacitance of material and the improvement of charge storage capacity. Based on these advantages, the maximum power density of MFC equipped with CPC-Fe/CC anode reaches 1850.50 mW m−2. The CPC-Fe/CC bioanode has a cumulative total charge of 1076.02 C m−2, showing good capacitive behaviour and exhibiting a significant enrichment effect on Geobacter species. This study demonstrates that the regulation of extracellular electron transfer (EET) process based on bioelectronic reception steps can not only enhance the power generation performance of MFC, but also effectively improve the energy storage capacity of MFC, which offers significant knowledge for the development of electrode design in other bioelectrochemical systems.

Conductive and capacitive network for enriching the exoelectrogens and enhancing the extracellular electron transfer in microbial fuel cells

Although lots of nanomaterials modified anodes have been reported to improve the bacterial attachment and extracellular electron transfer (EET) in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), the lack of a three dimensional (3D) conductive and capacitive network severely limited MFCs performance. In this work, 3D conductive networks derived from mucor mycelia were grown on carbon cloth (CC), and capacitive FeMn phosphides/oxides were further anchored on these 3D networks by electrochemical deposition (denoted as FeMn/CMM@CC) to simultaneously address the above challenges. As a result, the multivalent metal active sites were evenly distributed on 3D conductive network, which favored the enrichment of exoelectrogens, mass transport and EET. Consequently, the as-prepared FeMn/CMM@CC anode displayed accumulated charge of 131.4C/m2, higher than bare CC. Meanwhile, FeMn/CMM@CC anode substantially promoted flavin excretion and the amounts of nano conduits. The abundance of Geobacter was 63 % on bare CC, and greatly increased to 83 % on FeMn/CMM@CC. MFCs equipped by FeMn/CMM@CC anode presented the power density of 3.06 W/m2 and coulombic efficiency (29.9 %), evidently higher than bare CC (1.29 W/m2, 7.3 %), and the daily chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal amount also increased to 92.6 mg/L/d. This work developed a facile method to optimize the abiotic-biotic interface by introducing 3D conductive and capacitive network, which was proved to be a promising strategy to modify macro-porous electrodes.

Starch – carrageenan based low-cost membrane permeability characteristic and its application for yeast microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are an innovative method that generates sustainable electricity by exploiting the metabolic processes of microorganisms. The membrane that divides the anode and cathode chambers is an important component of MFCs. Commercially available membranes, such as Nafion, are both costly, not sustainable, and harmful to the environment. In this study, a low-cost alternative membrane for MFCs based on a starch-carrageenan blend (SCB-LCM) was synthesized. The SCB-LCM membrane was created by combining starch and carrageenan and demonstrated a high dehydration rate of 98.87 % over six hours. SEM analysis revealed a smooth surface morphology with no pores on the membrane surface. The performance of SCB-LCM membrane-based MFCs was evaluated and compared to that of other membranes, including Nafion 117 and Nafion 212. All membranes tested over 25 hours lost significant weight, with SCB-LCM losing the least. The maximum power density (MPD) of the SCB-LCM MFCs was 15.77 ± 4.34 mW/m2, indicating comparable performance to commercial membranes. Moreover, the cost-to-power ratio for MFCs employing SCB-LCM was the lowest (0.03 USD.m2/mW) when compared to other membranes, indicating that SCB-LCM might be a viable and cost-effective alternative to Nafion in MFCs. These SCB-LCM findings lay the groundwork for future research into low-cost and sustainable membrane for MFC technologies.

The Effect of Illumination, Electrode Distance, and Illumination Periods on the Performance of Phototrophic Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells (PSMFCs)

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can potentially be used to overcome issues with battery powered light buoys and their frequent maintenance. In this study, a phototrophic sediment microbial fuel cell (PSMFC) was chosen, as the microalgae provide oxygen to be reduced on the cathode and to release the necessary nutrients for the bacteria on the anode. To achieve this, we studied the effect of illumination, the period of the illumination, and the distance between 9-cm2 stainless steel mesh electrodes on the performance of the MFC. The illuminated cells were able to produce higher OCP (max. 205.2 mV) and higher power density (max. 0.68 mW/m2). However, the highest current was achieved during the unilluminated variation (max. 5.3 μA unilluminated and 3.3 μA illuminated). Prolonged illumination produced a higher OCP, current, and power density. A longer electrode distance produced a higher OCP, power density, and current. SEM analysis showed that biofilm formation tended to be scattered at lower electrode distance and more clumped (filling the anode area) at higher electrode distance. Through FTIR analysis, it was found that all MFC variations had the same organic matter, but a more concentrated organic content was found in the MFC at longer electrode distances.