Enhancement of power generation by microbial fuel cells in treating toluene-contaminated groundwater: Developments of composite anodes with various compositions

Shu-Hui Liu, Yu-Chuan Lai and Chi-Wen Lin

Applied Energy, 2019, vol. 233-234, 922-929

Abstract: This work develops microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with composite anodes that combine conductive coke (CC) and conductive carbon black (CCB) to improve the performance of those MFCs in treating toluene-contaminated groundwater. The effect of the combination ratio (CRCCB:CC) of the composite anode with various ratios of CCB to CC on MFC performance was evaluated. The results demonstrate that the time required (tr) for the MFC with CR1:3 to remove all toluene was half of that required by other MFCs except for that with CR1:9. Additionally, CR1:3 is associated with the highest power density (PDmax) of 72 mW/m2, which is 1.24–2.78 times higher than those obtained using other CRs or a single-material anode (CC) except for CCB, owing to the high conductivity of the latter. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) yields oxidized-reduced current peaks of CR1:3 that are 1.44–2.89-fold as high as those obtained using other CRs, suggesting that the composite anode with CCB or CC at an optimal ratio accelerates the oxidation-reduction reactions, favoring the removal of organic waste. This work establishes the feasibility of using a composite anode to improve the removal of toluene and the generation of electricity by MFCs.

Keywords: Microbial fuel cells; Composite anode; Toluene removal; Power production (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:appene:v:233-234:y:2019:i::p:922-929

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DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.10.105

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