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Improved power and long term performance of microbial fuel cell with Fe-N-C catalyst in air-breathing cathode

Author

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  • Gajda, Iwona
  • Greenman, John
  • Santoro, Carlo
  • Serov, Alexey
  • Melhuish, Chris
  • Atanassov, Plamen
  • Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

Abstract

Power output limitation is one of the main challenges that needs to be addressed for full-scale applications of the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) technology. Previous studies have examined electrochemical performance of different cathode electrodes including the development of novel iron based electrocatalysts, however the long-term investigation into continuously operating systems is rare. This work aims to study the application of platinum group metals-free (PGM-free) catalysts integrated into an air-breathing cathode of the microbial fuel cell operating on activated sewage sludge and supplemented with acetate as the carbon energy source. The maximum power density up to 1.3 Wm−2 (54 Wm−3) obtained with iron aminoantipyrine (Fe-AAPyr) catalyst is the highest reported in this type of MFC and shows stability and improvement in long term operation when continuously operated on wastewater. It also investigates the ability of this catalyst to facilitate water extraction from the anode and electroosmotic production of clean catholyte. The electrochemical kinetic extraction of catholyte in the cathode chamber shows correlation with power performance and produces a newly synthesised solution with a high pH > 13, suggesting caustic content. This shows an active electrolytic treatment of wastewater by active ionic and pH splitting in an electricity producing MFC.

Suggested Citation

  • Gajda, Iwona & Greenman, John & Santoro, Carlo & Serov, Alexey & Melhuish, Chris & Atanassov, Plamen & Ieropoulos, Ioannis A., 2018. "Improved power and long term performance of microbial fuel cell with Fe-N-C catalyst in air-breathing cathode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1073-1079.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:144:y:2018:i:c:p:1073-1079
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2017.11.135
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Li, Xiaojing & Wang, Xin & Zhang, Yueyong & Ding, Ning & Zhou, Qixing, 2014. "Opening size optimization of metal matrix in rolling-pressed activated carbon air–cathode for microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 13-18.
    2. Jadhav, Dipak A. & Jain, Sumat C. & Ghangrekar, Makarand M., 2016. "Cow's urine as a yellow gold for bioelectricity generation in low cost clayware microbial fuel cell," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 113(C), pages 76-84.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Zhong, Kengqiang & Li, Meng & Yang, Yue & Zhang, Hongguo & Zhang, Bopeng & Tang, Jinfeng & Yan, Jia & Su, Minhua & Yang, Zhiquan, 2019. "Nitrogen-doped biochar derived from watermelon rind as oxygen reduction catalyst in air cathode microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 242(C), pages 516-525.
    3. Chen, Wenwen & Liu, Zhongliang & Li, Yanxia & Liao, Qiang & Zhu, Xun, 2021. "High electricity generation achieved by depositing rGO@MnO2 composite catalysts on three-dimensional stainless steel fiber felt for preparing the energy-efficient air cathode in microbial fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).
    4. Chen, Bor-Yann & Liao, Jia-Hui & Hsueh, Chung-Chuan & Qu, Ziwei & Hsu, An-Wei & Chang, Chang-Tang & Zhang, Shuping, 2018. "Deciphering biostimulation strategy of using medicinal herbs and tea extracts for bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cells," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 161(C), pages 1042-1054.
    5. Mohamed, Hend Omar & Talas, Sawsan Abo & Sayed, Enas T. & Park, Sung-Gwan & Eisa, Tasnim & Abdelkareem, Mohammad Ali & Fadali, Olfat A. & Chae, Kyu-Jung & Castaño, Pedro, 2021. "Enhancing power generation in microbial fuel cell using tungsten carbide on reduced graphene oxide as an efficient anode catalyst material," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 229(C).
    6. Sekar, Aiswarya Devi & Jayabalan, Tamilmani & Muthukumar, Harshiny & Chandrasekaran, Nivedhini Iswarya & Mohamed, Samsudeen Naina & Matheswaran, Manickam, 2019. "Enhancing power generation and treatment of dairy waste water in microbial fuel cell using Cu-doped iron oxide nanoparticles decorated anode," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 172(C), pages 173-180.
    7. Miguel Ángel López Zavala & Pamela Renée Torres Delenne & Omar Israel González Peña, 2018. "Improvement of Wastewater Treatment Performance and Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells by Enhancing Hydrolysis and Acidogenesis, and by Reducing Internal Losses," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(9), pages 1-14, September.

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