Exposing effect of comb-type cathode electrode on the performance of sediment microbial fuel cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2017
Abstract
Sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) are an innovative, green technology with great potential, and they utilize a voltage drop of redox potential between aerobes and anaerobes to produce electricity and degrade organic wastewater. However, the power performance and degradation rate in SMFCs are limited by the low concentration of dissolved oxygen on the cathode. Therefore, in this study, SMFCs with comb-type cathode electrodes with carbon cloths exposed partly to air and embedded partly in the reactor substrate were designed and operated. They were utilized for enhancing the power density and the effect of three different exposed areas of cathode electrode for improving transfer of oxygen. Results showed that the power density reached 3.77 × 10−2 mW/m2 for 75% of the (MA75) exposed area, which was 1.93 times than that of 50% of the (MA50) exposed area and 6.44 times than that of 0% (i.e., completely immersed; MA0) exposed area. These results indicated that the exposed area of the cathode electrode had a positive effect on the power performance of SMFCs and would reduce the impedance of the cathode. These findings would apparently offer useful information on the feasibility of SMFCs for wastewater treatment applications in the future.
Keywords
Sediment microbial fuel cell, Exposed area of cathode electrode, Power density, Oxygen transfer, Wastewater treatment
Divisions
fac_eng
Funders
MOST Taiwan under contract # MOST 103-2221-E-197-022-MY3, 106-2622-E-197-007-CC3, 106-2221-E-197-019 and 106-2923-E-197-001-MY3
Publication Title
Applied Energy
Volume
204
Publisher
Elsevier