Enhancing power generation in microbial fuel cell using tungsten carbide on reduced graphene oxide as an efficient anode catalyst material

Hend Omar Mohamed, Sawsan Abo Talas, Enas T. Sayed, Sung-Gwan Park, Tasnim Eisa, Mohammad Ali Abdelkareem, Olfat A. Fadali, Kyu-Jung Chae and Pedro Castaño

Energy, 2021, vol. 229, issue C

Abstract: Tungsten carbide (WC) and tungsten carbide on reduced graphene oxide (WC + rGO) nanolayers show outstanding performance as anode catalysts in microbial fuel cells for the simultaneous generation of power and treatment of wastewater. In this work, we synthesized these catalysts using simple and cost-effective urea glass route and reduction-carburization techniques. The pristine carbon felt (CF), WC/CF, and WC + rGO/CF anodes were characterized using several techniques and tested in a practical microbial fuel cell using industrial wastewater. We found that the unique features of WC/CF and WC + rGO/CF anodes, i.e., the surface area, biocompatibility, structure morphology, and catalytic activity, resulted in significant performance improvements. In particular, WC + rGO/CF exhibited a 4.4-, 7.6-, and 2.1-fold power density, current density, and coulombic efficiency, respectively, relative to the benchmark CF anode. This study confirms the potential use of WC + rGO/CF as a viable anode catalyst in microbial fuel cells on a larger scale.

Keywords: Microbial fuel cell; Tungsten carbide; Reduced graphene oxide; Anode catalyst; Real industrial wastewater (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:energy:v:229:y:2021:i:c:s0360544221009506

DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2021.120702

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