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Anode direct contact for enhancing power generation and biofouling reduction in ultrafiltration microbial fuel cells
Author(s) -
Kim KyoungYeol,
Yang Euntae,
Lee MiYoung,
Chae KyuJung,
Kim SungJo,
Kim In S.
Publication year - 2014
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.4258
Subject(s) - microbial fuel cell , biofouling , anode , internal resistance , ultrafiltration (renal) , power density , materials science , membrane , electrode , effluent , wastewater , chemical engineering , contact resistance , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , environmental engineering , chromatography , environmental science , battery (electricity) , power (physics) , engineering , biochemistry , physics , quantum mechanics
BACKGROUND An ultrafiltration microbial fuel cell ( UF‐MFC ) is a novel technology that can simultaneously produce high‐quality effluent and electricity during wastewater treatment. To increase the power density and mitigate the inevitable biofouling phenomena in UF‐MFCs , the anode direct contact ( ADC ) method was tested. ADC application in UF‐MFCs improves the power densities by reducing the distance between the anode electrode and UF membrane (lowering the internal resistance), and mitigates biofouling on the UF membrane surface due to the direct contact of the porous anode electrode with the membrane surface. RESULTS The maximum power density increased from 76.6 ± 2.5 mW m −2 to 129.4 ± 13.9 mW m −2 after applying the ADC , with the internal resistance decreasing from 0.49 Ω m 2 to 0.23 Ω m 2 . The concentrations of extracellular polymeric substances ( EPS ) and total cell number were also analyzed as indicators for measuring biofouling on the UF membrane surface. EPS proteins and total cell numbers were reduced (62.8% and 64.9% each) with ADC application after 70 h operation, though no differences were observed in the specific permeate flux. CONCLUSION ADC application is simple and its use can enhance the power densities and mitigate the biofouling phenomena of UF‐MFCs . © 2013 Society of Chemical Industry