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Environmental decontamination using photocatalytic fuel cells and photoelectrocatalysis‐microbial fuel cells
Author(s) -
He Rui,
Liu Lifen,
Shi Peng,
Nie Cheng
Publication year - 2018
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.5729
Subject(s) - microbial fuel cell , pollutant , human decontamination , anode , photocatalysis , chemistry , aeration , tetracycline , waste management , environmental chemistry , pulp and paper industry , electrode , catalysis , antibiotics , biochemistry , organic chemistry , engineering
Abstract BACKGROUND To decontaminate sites of pollutants, fuel cell and bio‐electrochemical fuel cell reactors can degrade pollutants and generate electricity simultaneously, potentially decrease cost, energy consumptions and treatment cycle. In this study, a photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) and PEC‐MFC (integrated photo‐electro‐catalysis with microbial fuel cell) were investigated to decontaminate sand/water polluted by RhB, antibiotics and heavy metal ions. RESULTS In the PFC, paired electrodes with ZnIn 2 S 4 ‐AgAgCl/GO or ZnIn 2 S 4 ‐RGO/MnO 2 , effectively removed pollutants in sand/water. The removal of RhB was 95.6% in 100 min with an external resistance of 1 Ω under aeration. Adding cyclo‐dextrin increased pollutant removals, realized 66% removal of RhB in overlying water, and significant removal in sand after 5 h, and 70% removal of tetracycline in overlying water, but only 60% without cyclodextrin after 4 h. Adding KMnO 4 and NaHSO 3 promoted decontamination of tetracycline from sand/water, tetracycline in water was almost completely degraded in 3.5 h with the addition, but only about 65% without any addition. In the PEC‐MFC, integrating photo‐electro‐catalytic electrode with bio‐anode, Cr(VI) in the cathode chamber was reduced rapidly and the concentration of RhB in sand decreased quickly, nearly complete in 2 h. The Cr(VI) in sand was reduced in several hours, so that, compared with previous reports, the treatment time is significantly shortened. CONCLUSION The PFC and PEC‐MFC systems are successful in decontaminating sand/water in polluted sites and are cost‐effective and sustainable methods. By building an on‐site or off‐site system with washing and cycling of the liquid stream, it could be a convenient remediation method for polluted sites. © 2018 Society of Chemical Industry