<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>In recent years, fuel cells have become a renewable source of energy. Among different kinds of fuel cells, microbial fuel cells, which convert organic substrates to electricity by electrogenic bacteria have attracted most attention. In this study, which is preliminary in nature, potential of electricity generation and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were studied in a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactor. Effect of type of feedstock and inoculum source on bioelectricity generation and COD removal was studied as well. Brewery wastewater and potato waste were used as substrates while anaerobic sludge and cow dung were used as inoculum sources. The substrate and inoculum sources were in 8.2:1 ratio and a phosphate buffer was added to the anode compartment to regulate the pH. The system was operated at 30 °C and a home-made membrane served as a bridge between the electrodes. A maximum voltage of 3.6 mV was generated from the brewery wastewater sludge and the maximum COD removal after 3 days was 43.7 %. It was further found that the use of animal dung as inoculum source outperformed the use of sludge as regard the bioelectricity generation but not for COD removal. Similarly, the use of the brewery waste as an organic substrate outperformed the use of potato waste as regard the bioelectricity generation but not for COD removal. All experiments yielded a measurable voltage, however, the unsteady behaviour of the voltage output made it difficult to compare substrates in terms of their viability as organic fuel. Therefore, future studies should consider conducting substrate physico-chemical analysis and genomic analysis of the inoculum sources to understand their composition.</p></abstract>

In recent years, fuel cells have become a renewable source of energy. Among different kinds of fuel cells, microbial fuel cells, which convert organic substrates to electricity by electrogenic bacteria have attracted most attention. In this study, which is preliminary in nature, potential of electricity generation and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal were studied in a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactor. Effect of type of feedstock and inoculum source on bioelectricity generation and COD removal was studied as well. Brewery wastewater and potato waste were used as substrates while anaerobic sludge and cow dung were used as inoculum sources. The substrate and inoculum sources were in 8.2:1 ratio and a phosphate buffer was added to the anode compartment to regulate the pH. The system was operated at 30 °C and a home-made membrane served as a bridge between the electrodes. A maximum voltage of 3.6 mV was generated from the brewery wastewater sludge and the maximum COD removal after 3 days was 43.7 %. It was further found that the use of animal dung as inoculum source outperformed the use of sludge as regard the bioelectricity generation but not for COD removal. Similarly, the use of the brewery waste as an organic substrate outperformed the use of potato waste as regard the bioelectricity generation but not for COD removal. All experiments yielded a measurable voltage, however, the unsteady behaviour of the voltage output made it difficult to compare substrates in terms of their viability as organic fuel. Therefore, future studies should consider conducting substrate physico-chemical analysis and genomic analysis of the inoculum sources to understand their composition.

Effect of Combining Different Substrates and Inoculum Sources on Bioelectricity Generation and COD Removal in a Two-Chambered Microbial FuelCell: A Preliminary Investigation

Faculty of Engineering and the Built Environment

Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering

Environmental and Climate Technologies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

In recent years, fuel cells have become a renewable source of energy. Among different kinds of fuel cells, microbial fuel cells, which convert organic...

Effect of Combining Different Substrates and Inoculum Sources on Bioelectricity Generation and COD Removal in a Two-Chambered Microbial FuelCell: A Preliminary Investigation

Data publikacji: 23 wrz 2020

Zakres stron: 67 - 78

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0055

Słowa kluczowe
Anaerobic sludge, animal dung, brewery water, potato waste

© 2020 Joshua Marks et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Effect of Combining Different Substrates and Inoculum Sources on Bioelectricity Generation and COD Removal in a Two-Chambered Microbial FuelCell: A Preliminary Investigation

Data publikacji: 23 wrz 2020

Zakres stron: 67 - 78

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/rtuect-2020-0055

Słowa kluczoweAnaerobic sludge, animal dung, brewery water, potato waste

© 2020 Joshua Marks et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Słowa kluczowe
Anaerobic sludge, animal dung, brewery water, potato waste