Implementation of surface modified carbon cloth electrodes with biochar particles in microbial fuel cells
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
1-1-2018
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are bioelectrochemical reactors that convert chemical energy in organic substrates to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms. The relationship between microorganisms and electrodes plays a vital role for effective functioning of an MFC. The physical and chemical properties of the electrodes are more crucial for a feasible MFC performance. Plain Carbon cloth (CC) and surface modified CC with four different sizes of Biochar (BC) particles such as 2 mm BC< 2, BC2-4, BC4-6, and BC6-10 were employed as anode electrodes in dual-chambered MFCs and their performance was compared. Results showed that the electrode with BC< 2 enhanced the MFC performance to with power density of 312 mWm−2 and BC6-10 facilitated the maximum COD degradation performance of 77% in the MFC both due to electrode properties like high porosity and large surface area. This study in general is a proof that BC has high feasibility for usage in MFC electrode modification studies.
Keywords
Microbial fuel cells, biochar, porosity, high specific surface area, electrode modification
Divisions
fac_eng
Funders
MOST Taiwan under contract # MOST 103-2221-E-197-022-MY3, 106-2923-E-197-001-MY3, 106-2622-E-197-007-CC3, 106-2218-E-027-014-MY2, and 106-221-E-197-019
Publication Title
International Journal of Green Energy
Volume
15
Issue
13
Publisher
Taylor & Francis