The Membrane-Less Microbial Fuel Cell (ML-MFC) with Ni-Co and Cu-B Cathode Powered by the Process Wastewater from Yeast Production

Barbara Włodarczyk and Paweł P. Włodarczyk
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Barbara Włodarczyk: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, University of Opole, Kominka Str. 6, 45-032 Opole, Poland
Paweł P. Włodarczyk: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Biotechnology, Faculty of Natural Sciences and Technology, University of Opole, Kominka Str. 6, 45-032 Opole, Poland

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 15, 1-13

Abstract: Research related to measurements of electricity production was combined with parallel wastewater parameter reduction in a membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) fed with industry process wastewater (from a yeast factory). Electrodes with Ni–Co and Cu–B catalysts were used as cathodes. A carbon electrode (carbon cloth) was used as a reference due to its widespread use. It was demonstrated that all analyzed electrodes could be employed as cathodes in ML-MFC fed with process wastewater from yeast production. Electricity measurements during ML-MFC operations indicated that power (6.19 mW) and current density (0.38 mA·cm −2 ) were the highest for Ni–Co electrodes. In addition, during the exploitation of ML-MFC, it was recorded that the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal per time for all types of electrodes was similar to the duration of COD decrease in the conditions for wastewater aeration. However, the COD reduction curve for aeration took the most favorable course. The concentration of NH 4 + in ML-MFC remained virtually constant throughout the measurement period, whereas NO 3 − levels indicated almost complete removal (with a minimum increase in the last days of cell exploitation).

Keywords: microbial fuel cell; electricity production; oxygen electrode; Ni–Co cathode; Cu–B cathode; yeast wastewater; environmental engineering (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
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