Activated Carbon Electrodes for Bioenergy Production in Microbial Fuel Cells Using Synthetic Wastewater as Substrate

Rickelmi Agüero-Quiñones, Zairi Ávila-Sánchez, Segundo Rojas-Flores (), Luis Cabanillas-Chirinos, Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega, Renny Nazario-Naveda and Walter Rojas-Villacorta
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Rickelmi Agüero-Quiñones: Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13007, Peru
Zairi Ávila-Sánchez: Escuela de Ingeniería Ambiental, Facultad de Ingeniería, Universidad Cesar Vallejo, Trujillo 13007, Peru
Segundo Rojas-Flores: Escuela de Ingeniería Mecánica Eléctrica, Universidad Señor de Sipán, Chiclayo 14000, Peru
Luis Cabanillas-Chirinos: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Magaly De La Cruz-Noriega: Instituto de Investigación en Ciencia y Tecnología, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru
Renny Nazario-Naveda: Departamento de Ciencias, Universidad Privada del Norte, Trujillo 13007, Peru
Walter Rojas-Villacorta: Programa de Investigación Formativa e Integridad Científica, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo 13001, Peru

Sustainability, 2023, vol. 15, issue 18, 1-14

Abstract: The growing global energy demand drives the need to develop new clean energy technologies. In this context, microbial fuel cells (MFC) are one of the emerging technologies with great potential for eco-friendly energy generation; however, the correct choice of electrode material is a significant limitation in the optimal configuration of MFCs. Therefore, this research evaluated the efficiency of activated carbon (AC) anode electrodes for bioenergy production in MFC using synthetic wastewater as a substrate. Peak values of voltage (1120 ± 0.050 mV), current (4.64 ± 0.040 mA), power density (208.14 ± 17.15 mW/cm 2 ), and current density (5.03 A/cm 2 ) were generated, and the R int obtained was 214.52 ± 5.22 Ω. The substrate was operated at pH values from 5.31 to 7.66, maximum ORP values (858 mV) were reached, and turbidity was reduced to 25.11 NTU. The SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy) analyses allowed us to observe the morphology and composition of the AC electrodes, revealing a predominance of O, C, Si, Al, Fe, K, and Ca. It is concluded that the AC electrodes have the potential to produce bioenergy at a laboratory by means of MFC.

Keywords: activated carbon; microbial fuel cells; wastewater; bioenergy (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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