Modelling microbial fuel cells with suspended cells and added electron transfer mediator

Derivation of a mathematical model for microbial fuel cells (MFC) with suspended biomass and added electron-transfer mediator is described. The model is based on mass balances for several dissolved chemical species such as substrate, oxidized mediator and reduced mediator. Biological, chemical and electrochemical reactions can occur in the bulk liquid and at the electrode surface, respectively. Model outputs include time-dependent production of current and electrical charge, current–voltage and current–power curves, and the evolution of concentrations of chemical species. The model behaviour is illustrated using a test case based on detailed experimental observations reported in the literature for a microbial fuel cell operated in batch mode and repeatedly fed with a single substrate. A detailed model parameter estimation procedure is presented. The model simulates the current–time evolution and voltage–current curves in the MFC with glucose as anode substrate and the ferrocyanide/ferricyanide redox couple as the oxidation reaction at the cathode. Simulations show the effect of different parameters (electrical resistance, mass transfer resistance, exchange current, coulombic yields and biomass, substrate and mediator concentrations) on the MFC characteristics. The model explains how the endogenous metabolism or intracellular substrate storage could lead to a non-zero background current even when the added substrate has been depleted. Different trends (increasing or decreasing) in the initial current are explained by the initial oxidation state of the mediator (oxidized or reduced, respectively). The model has potential applications for other bioelectrochemical systems.     

微生物燃料电池的动态性能分析及其神经网络预测控制

微生物燃料电池（microbial fuel cell,MFC）反应底物浓度的控制问题是整个系统优化控制的重要环节,其控制效果的优劣对系统的输出电压有很大的影响。针对MFC输出电压在常规控制策略下超调量大和响应速度慢的特点,对MFC系统模型中输入量、控制量的变化对系统输出的影响进行动态仿真;将负载电流作为扰动量,提出了针对MFC系统阳极进料流量进行控制的神经网络预测控制策略。仿真结果表明,与PID控制方法相对比,利用神经网络预测控制策略的系统输出电压响应速度快且超调量小,其动态性能得到了较大的改善。     

Production of electricity from the treatment of continuous brewery wastewater using a microbial fuel cell

A single air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) was constructed, carbon fiber was used as anode and continuous brewery wastewater as substrate. The MFC displayed a maximum power of 24.1 W m⁻³ (669 mW m⁻²) and an internal resistance of 23.3 Ω running on raw wastewater (chemical oxygen demand (COD) = 1501 mg L⁻¹). The effect of phosphate buffer solution (PBS) addition and substrate concentration of wastewater on the performance of MFC was demonstrated. Data showed that both PBS addition and increase of substrate concentration had a favorable effect on the electrochemical performance and substrate removal efficiency of the MFC. However, it can be concluded from the polarization curve that MFC operated under raw brewery wastewater had a relatively low internal resistance, which resulted in a favorable performance of the MFC compared with other MFCs using raw wastewater. Thus it is feasible and sustainable in nature because of the utilization of raw wastewater as substrate for in situ power generation apart from treatment.     

MFC-MEC耦合系统产电性能及处理含镉重金属废水的研究

以厌氧活性污泥为阳极菌种,乙酸钠为阳极底物,硫酸铜和重铬酸钾溶液为微生物燃料电池（MFC）阴极液,人工模拟含镉重金属废水为微生物电解池（MEC）阴极液,构建MFC-MEC耦合系统,利用MFC的产电驱动MEC运行,在不消耗外部能源的情况下,实现含镉重金属废水中Cd²⁺的去除。实验研究了MFC反应器容积、MFC堆栈、MEC电极材料、MEC阴极液pH对MFC-MEC耦合系统电性能及含镉重金属废水处理效果的影响。结果表明：MFC反应容积的扩大可以提高其产电性能,但与此同时会造成MFC的内阻升高,随着MFC容积的增加,MEC中Cd²⁺去除率逐渐增加,但同时MFC阴极Cr⁶⁺去除率逐渐下降;MFC堆栈可以提高工作组两端电压,串联时最大输出电压为1509 mV,Cd²⁺去除率为69.3%;以钛板作为MEC电极时,微生物能有效附着在阳极表面,MFC阳极COD去除率为85%,MEC中Cd²⁺去除率为51.5%;MEC阴极液pH在3~5时,有利于含镉重金属废水的处理,Cd²⁺去除率80%以上。经XRD分析,MEC阴极还原产物为CdCO₃。     

Enhanced Performance of Micro‐Electro‐Mechanical‐Systems (MEMS) Microbial Fuel Cells Using Electrospun Microfibrous Anode and Optimizing Operation

In this work, a microfabricated anode based on gold coated poly(ϵ‐caprolactone) fiber was developed that outperformed gold microelectrode by a factor of 2.65‐fold and even carbon paper by 1.39‐fold. This is a result of its ability to three‐dimensionally interface with bacterial biofilm, the metabolic “engines” of the microbial fuel cell (MFC). We also examined unavoidable issues as the MFC is significantly reduced in size (e.g. to the microscale); (1) bubble production or movement into the microchamber and (2) high sensitivity to flow rate variations. In fact, intentionally induced bubble generation in the anodic chamber reduced the MFC current density by 33% and the MFC required 4 days to recover its initial performance. Under different flow rates in the anode chamber, the current densities were almost constant, however, the current increased up to 38% with increasing flow rate in the cathode.     

微生物燃料电池阳极修饰的研究进展

微生物细胞与电池阳极之间的电子转移速率是影响微生物燃料电池(MFC)产电性能的重要因素之一.通过阳极修饰可以促进电子转移速率,进而提高MFC产电性能.综述了MFC阳极修饰的研究进展.     

微生物燃料电池技术及其影响因素研究进展

微生物燃料电池(Microbial fuel cell,MFC)作为一种绿色能源技术,通过微生物的氧化代谢作用将废水中的有机质降解的同时产生电能.然而,其相对较低的产电效率限制了MFC的工业化应用.该文介绍了影响MFC性能的诸多因素,如设备的构型限制、电极材料、阳极底物、阳极微生物和质子交换膜等,提出优化MFC的设计,提高MFC的产电性能,降低投入成本可解决MFC产业化应用的弊端,并对未来MFC的发展方向进行了展望.     

Electrochemical characteriztion of the bioanode during simultaneous azo dye decolorization and bioelectricity generation in an air-cathode single chambered microbial fuel cell

To achieve high power output based on simultaneously azo dye decolorization using microbial fuel cell (MFC), the bioanode responses during decolorization of a representative azo dye, Congo red, were investigated in an air-cathode single chambered MFC using representative electrochemical techniques. It has been found that the maximum stable voltage output was delayed due to slowly developed anode potential during Congo red decolorization, indicating that the electrons recovered from co-substrate are preferentially transferred to Congo red rather than the bioanode of the MFC and Congo red decolorization is prior to electricity generation. Addition of Congo red had a negligible effect on the Ohmic resistance (R_ohm) of the bioanode, but the charge-transfer resistance (R_c) and the diffusion resistance (R_d) were significantly influenced. The R_c and R_d firstly decreased then increased with increase of Congo red concentration, probably due to the fact that the Congo red and its decolorization products can act as electron shuttle for conveniently electrons transfer from bacteria to the anode at low concentration, but result in accelerated consumption of electrons at high concentration. Cyclic voltammetry results suggested that Congo red was a more favorable electron acceptor than the bioanode of the MFC. Congo red decolorization did not result in a noticeable decrease in peak catalytic current until Congo red concentration up to 900 mg l⁻¹. Long-term decolorization of Congo red resulted in change in catalytic active site of anode biofilm.     

微生物燃料电池纳米纤维基阳极材料的研究进展

微生物燃料电池（Microbial fuel cell，MFC）是一种非常有前途的环境友好型电化学装置，它可以利用电活性微生物从废水中提取能源，并降解废水中的有机物，是解决目前环境与能源危机的重要技术。然而，相对较低的产电效率限制了其大规模应用，主要体现在阳极缓慢的胞外电子传递速率（extracellular electron transfer，EET）和较少的产电微生物附着量。纳米纤维由于具有高的比表面积、良好的电化学性能和电导率，是改善阳极的重要材料。本文介绍了影响阳极材料性能的因素，系统总结了近年来国内外纳米纤维基阳极材料的种类与制备方法，针对纳米纤维基阳极材料在MFC领域的研究现状，重点解释了各种纳米纤维材料的优缺点。最后，对纳米纤维基电极材料以及MFC技术的发展方向进行了展望，以期为推动MFC的工程化应用提供理论参考。     

阳极双电层电容对微生物燃料电池性能的影响

采用3种活性炭粉制备具有不同电容的阳极,研究了双电层电容阳极对单室空气阴极微生物燃料电池启动、运行、性能、阳极生物膜附着的影响。结果表明:当电极表面积相近的情况下,阳极双电层电容从0.0012 F增加到22.72 F时,微生物燃料电池启动时间缩短了68.0%,电池的最大功率密度增加了16.8倍,达到546.1 m W·m-2。扫描电子显微镜的结果表明高电容的阳极表面附着的微生物量比低电容电极的高1倍。因此,微生物燃料电池性能受阳极双电层电容的影响,而与阳极表面积的相关性小。     

电极对微生物燃料电池同时处理有机废水和含铜重金属废水产电性能的影响

实验以有机废水为阳极底物,以活性污泥中的混合菌为阳极接种微生物,以含铜废水为阴极液,构建双室MFC,探讨电极对MFC同时处理有机废水和含铜重金属废水产电性能的影响.结果表明:MFC对阳极有机废水COD的去除率最高为79.1%,对阴极液中Cu²⁺的去除率最高为95.6%.活性炭/石墨棒电极MFC产电性能最优,开路电压最高为800mV,是石墨棒电极MFC的1.25倍,是活性炭/碳纸电极MFC的1.3倍,是碳纸电极MFC的1.5倍.当电极距离为2cm时,MFC开路电压580mV,内阻为181Ω,产电性能最优.电极表面积为75cm²时,MFC的开路电压470mV,是电极表面积为50cm²的MFC的1.1倍,是电极表面积为30cm²的MFC的2.1倍.当A_An/A_cat=0.4时MFC产能最佳,MFC的开路电压最高为600mV,最大功率密度48.2mW/m².     

High power generation with simultaneous COD removal using a circulating column microbial fuel cell

BACKGROUND: A circulating column microbial fuel cell (MFC) with Cu anode and Au? Cu air cathode was used for power generation and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal from synthetic wastewater. The column was operated in repeated‐fed batch mode using acclimated anaerobic sludge. The contents of the column MFC were circulated while the feed wastewater was fed to the reactor in fed‐batch mode. Effects of feed COD concentration and COD loading rate on voltage difference, power density and percentage COD removal were investigated. RESULTS: The highest voltage difference (650 mV), power density (40 W m^?2) were obtained with a feed COD of 6400 mg L^?1, yielding 45% COD removal with a COD loading rate of nearly 90 mg h^?1. Low COD loadings (<90 mg h^?1) caused substrate limitations, and high loadings (>90 mg h^?1) resulted in inhibition of COD removal and power generation. The highest percentage COD removal (50%) was obtained with feed COD content of 10.35 g L^?1 or a COD loading rate of 145 mg h^?1. CONCLUSION: The power densities obtained with the circulating column MFC were considerably higher than those reported in the literature due to elimination of mass transfer limitations by the high circulation rates, proximity of electrodes and small anode surface area used in this study. Further improvements may be possible with optimization of the operating parameters. Copyright © 2009 Society of Chemical Industry     

Influence of NO3 and SO4 on power generation from microbial fuel cells

Potential competition in terms of electron transfer from bacteria to electron acceptors such as nitrate (NO₃) and sulfate (SO₄) or the anode of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was investigated to determine how alternative electron acceptors would influence power generation in an MFC. The cell voltage was not initially affected when these electron acceptors were introduced into the MFCs. However, the presence of NO₃ decreased the CE of the MFC compared to the injections of SO₄ or control salt (sodium chloride). This suggests that the growth of nitrate-reducing bacteria independent of the microbial populations on the MFC anode were not utilizing the anode as an electron acceptor, rather, they were consuming organic carbon in the anodic chamber of the MFC, resulting in a decrease of the CE of this MFC with no immediate impact on power output. This suggests that the bacterial consortium in the nitrate-MFC still preferred the anode over nitrate as the electron acceptor, although the theoretical reduction voltage of nitrate (+0.74 V) is higher than the reduction voltage in an MFC air cathode (as high as +0.425). These results are useful when considering whether MFC technology can be applied in situ to enhance biodegradation of organic contaminants in the presence of alternative electron acceptors.     

微生物燃料电池阳极材料的研究进展

微生物细胞向阳极转移电子的能力是微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cell,简称MFC)功率密度低的重要影响因素之一,高性能的MFC阳极要易于产电微生物细胞附着生长,易于电子从微生物细胞向阳极传递,同时要求阳极内部电阻小、导电性强、阳极电势稳定.文章综述了MFC阳极材料的研究进展.     

Improved energy recovery from dark fermented cane molasses using microbial fuel cells

A major limitation associated with fermentative hydrogen production is the low substrate conversion efficiency. This limitation can be overcome by integrating the process with a microbial fuel cell (MFC) which converts the residual energy of the substrate to electricity. Studies were carried out to check the feasibility of this integration. Biohydrogen was produced from the fermentation of cane molasses in both batch and continuous modes. A maximum yield of about 8.23 mol H₂/kg COD_removed was observed in the batch process compared to 11.6 mol H₂/kg COD_removed in the continuous process. The spent fermentation media was then used as a substrate in an MFC for electricity generation. The MFC parameters such as the initial anolyte pH, the substrate concentration and the effect of pre-treatment were studied and optimized to maximize coulombic efficiency. Reductions in COD and total carbohydrates were about 85% and 88% respectively. A power output of 3.02 W/m³ was obtained with an anolyte pH of 7.5 using alkali pre-treated spent media. The results show that integrating a MFC with dark fermentation is a promising way to utilize the substrate energy.     

异养反硝化微生物燃料电池脱氮产电性能研究

构建了双室型微生物燃料电池(MFC),探讨了异养反硝化底物降解、产电特性和指示作用。结果表明:有机物是影响异养反硝化微生物燃料电池产电和污水处理性能的关键影响因素,未加入有机物时MFC产电仅有10 m V;MFC的电信号能较好地反映亚硝氮、COD基质浓度的变化情况,因此可用电压变化指示底物的降解过程;在不考虑菌体水解、同化作用所引起氨氮浓度的增加问题时,亦可用时间来指示氨氮的降解过程。     

微生物燃料电池阳极的研究进展

产电微生物与电池阳极之间的电子传递效率是影响微生物燃料电池（MFC）产电性能的重要因素之一.通过对阳极材料的改进和修饰可以有效地降低阳极反应的活化能垒,提高电子传递效率,进而提高MFC产电性能.详细介绍了近年来MFC阳极材料的国内外研究进展,并针对当前研究所面临的问题,提出了今后MFC阳极的发展方向.     

樊立萍1,*,温越霄1,2

为提高微生物燃料电池(MFC)的废水处理效果和发电性能,制备了一种海藻酸钠-聚季铵盐11/碳毡(SA-PQ-11/CF)阳极,分别以制药废水和糖蜜废水为阳极液,以碳毡为阴极,构建微生物燃料电池(MFC)实验系统,通过扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、电化学阻抗谱(EIS)、循环伏安特性(CV)、化学需氧量(COD)对其性能进行表征。结果显示,SA-PQ-11/CF阳极具有较大的比表面积,MFC的溶液电阻和电荷转移电阻也得到明显降低。阳极液为制药废水时,采用SA-PQ-11/CF阳极的MFC的稳态输出电压和COD去除率分别约为0.22 V和62%,较常规碳毡阳极时分别提高了100%和130%。阳极液为糖蜜废水时,采用SA-PQ-11/CF阳极的MFC的稳态输出电压和COD去除率分别为0.15 V和43%,分别较采用常规碳毡阳极时提高了275%和95%。基于SA-PQ-11的阳极改性能够有效提高MFC的废水处理效果和产电能力。     

GO/PEDOT复合材料修饰阳极的制备及其在MFC中的应用

微生物燃料电池（MFC）是一种利用微生物将有机物中的化学能直接转化成电能的装置,通过改善阳极特性可以有效提高微生物燃料电池的产电性能。通过恒电流法电沉积制备了氧化石墨烯/聚3,4-乙烯二氧噻吩（GO/PEDOT）复合材料修饰碳毡（CF）阳极。通过循环伏安法和交流阻抗法考察了电极特性。将其应用到微生物燃料电池中,对其产电性能进行评价。结果表明,GO/PEDOT-CF电极具有较大的比表面积和优良的电化学性能;以GO/PEDOT-CF为阳极的微生物燃料电池,产电性能良好,其最大功率密度和最大电流密度达到1.138 W·m^-2和4.714 A·m^-2,分别是未修饰阳极的4.80倍和5.51倍。因此,GO/PEDOT复合材料是一种优良的阳极修饰材料,可有效提高MFC的产电性能。     

微生物燃料电池处理模拟含硫废水的初步研究

采用微生物燃料电池(Microbial fuel cell,MFC)处理模拟含硫废水,硫化物能全部被氧化戍单质硫或硫酸盐.MFC的最大功率密度达到(20±1)W·m~(-3),库仑效率为(20±2)%.阳极中有机质的氧化与硫化物的氧化存在一定竞争关系,进水碳硫比是影响单质硫生成率的关键因素.试验中,进水碳硫质量比大于1250:1,S~(2-)质量浓度为50mg·L~(-1)时,硫化物氧化成单质硫的转化率可达61%～77%.此外,阳极表面单质硫的积累很可能是造成MFC电极失效或运行不稳定的原因之一.