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Simultaneous generation of electricity and removal of organic load from synthetic wastewater in a membrane less microbial fuel cell: Parametric evaluation
Author(s) -
Shankar Ravi,
Mondal Prasenjit,
Chand Shri
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
environmental progress and sustainable energy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.495
H-Index - 66
eISSN - 1944-7450
pISSN - 1944-7442
DOI - 10.1002/ep.11941
Subject(s) - microbial fuel cell , wastewater , chemistry , power density , anode , current density , voltage , electricity generation , metal , pulp and paper industry , environmental engineering , electrode , environmental science , power (physics) , thermodynamics , organic chemistry , electrical engineering , physics , quantum mechanics , engineering
This work deals with the simultaneous generation of electricity and removal of organic load from synthetic wastewater containing eqimolar concentration of glucose and glutamic acid. The effect of initial COD (mg/L), anodic pH and metals (Zn 2+ , Cr 6+ , and Fe 3+ ) concentration on the generation of current density and voltage has been studied. Although, the amount of COD removed increases with increase in the initial COD value from 500 to 2500 mg/L, the maximum generation of current density (19 mA/m 2 ) and voltage (14.8 mV), after 7 days of operation, is achieved at the initial COD value of 1500 mg/L at anodic pH value of 7. Difference in the anodic and cathodic pH has also been observed maximum (∼1) at the initial COD value of 1500 mg/L. Addition of metals initially increases the voltage and power density generation, attains a maximum value at a certain metal concentration and decreases thereafter with increase in metal concentration. Optimum concentration of metals, that is, 8 mg/L Zn 2+ , 7 mg/L Cr 6+ , and 10 mg/L Fe 3+ in the solution produces maximum voltage of 142, 490, and 321 mV, after 7 days of operation, respectively. Corresponding maximum power densities are 6.9, 508, and 192 mW/m 2 , respectively. The present process seems to have maximum current density and voltage generation capacity in comparison to some recently reported literatures on membrane less MFCand is able to reduce COD value below permissible limit with the initial COD value ≤1250 mg/L. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 255–264, 2015