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Hydrazine hydrate chemical reduction as an effective anode modification method to improve the performance of microbial fuel cells
Author(s) -
Jin Tao,
Zhou Lei,
Luo Jianmei,
Yang Jie,
Zhao Yingying,
Zhou Minghua
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
journal of chemical technology and biotechnology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.64
H-Index - 117
eISSN - 1097-4660
pISSN - 0268-2575
DOI - 10.1002/jctb.4074
Subject(s) - microbial fuel cell , hydrazine (antidepressant) , anode , faraday efficiency , hydrate , materials science , chemical engineering , x ray photoelectron spectroscopy , cathode , substrate (aquarium) , scanning electron microscope , nuclear chemistry , electrochemistry , chemical energy , chemistry , composite material , organic chemistry , electrode , chromatography , oceanography , geology , engineering
Abstract Background The anode material is considered a key factor influencing the energy conversion in microbial fuel cells ( MFCs ) because it links microbiology and electrochemistry. To further improve power generation, carbon mesh anodes modified by hydrazine hydrate chemical reduction were applied in air‐cathode MFCs . Results The power densities of MFCs using hydrazine‐treated anodes were all higher than the untreated control, among which a 30% hydrazine hydrate‐modified anode ( CM ‐30%) showed the best performance. The maximum power density reached 865 mW m −2 , which was 31% higher than the unmodified control ( CM ‐0%, 662 mW m −2 ). The Coulombic efficiency ( CE ) increased from 10.7% to 13.3% (improved by 24.3%). Furthermore, the acclimation time was reduced from 142 h to 95 h, shortened by 32% compared with the control. Such improvement in MFCs performance was correlated with the increased surface area revealed by scanning electron microscope ( SEM ) and the change of surface functional groups revealed by X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy ( XPS ) analysis. This enhancement in MFCs performance was also proved feasible when using real swine wastewater as substrate . Conclusions The results indicated that hydrazine hydrate chemical reduction was an effective method for anode modification to improve the performance of MFCs . © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry