Dataset Information

Urine microbial fuel cells in a semi-controlled environment for onsite urine pre-treatment and electricity production.

ABSTRACT: Microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems have the ability to oxidize organic matter and transfer electrons to an external circuit as electricity at voltage levels of <1?V. Urine has been shown to be an excellent feedstock for various MFC systems, particularly MFCs inoculated with activated sludge and with a terracotta ceramic membrane separating carbon-based electrodes. In this article, we studied a MFC system composed of two stacks of 32 individual cells each sharing the same anolyte. By combining the current produced by the 32?cells connected in parallel and by adding the potential of both stacks connected in series, an average power density of 23?mW?m-2 was produced at an effective current density of 65?mA?m-2 for more than 120 days. [NH3], TIC, COD, and TOC levels were monitored frequently to understand the chemical energy conversion to electricity as well as to determine the best electrical configuration of the stacks. Archaeal and bacterial populations on selected anode felts and in the anolyte of both stacks were investigated as well. Indicator microorganisms for bacterial waterborne diseases were measured in anolyte and catholyte compartments to evaluate the risk of reusing the catholyte in a non-regulated environment.

SUBMITTER: Cid CA

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6472131 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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Urine microbial fuel cells in a semi-controlled environment for onsite urine pre-treatment and electricity production.

Cid Clement A CA Stinchcombe Andrew A Ieropoulos Ioannis I Hoffmann Michael R MR

Journal of power sources 20181001

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems have the ability to oxidize organic matter and transfer electrons to an external circuit as electricity at voltage levels of <1 V. Urine has been shown to be an excellent feedstock for various MFC systems, particularly MFCs inoculated with activated sludge and with a terracotta ceramic membrane separating carbon-based electrodes. In this article, we studied a MFC system composed of two stacks of 32 individual cells each sharing the same anolyte. By combining the ...[more]

PMID: 31007366

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Project description:Dye-sensitisation of TiO2 and other metal oxides is an established strategy to couple solar light harvesting with efficient charge separation for the production of electricity in dye-sensitised solar cells (DSCs) or fuels in dye-sensitised semiconductor photocatalysis (DSP). Perylene monoimide (PMI) dyes have emerged as promising organic dyes, but they have not previously been used in a functional assembly with TiO2 in aqueous solution. Here, five novel PMI dyes bearing carboxylic acid, phosphonic acid, acetylacetone, hydroxyquinoline or dipicolinic acid anchoring groups for attachment onto TiO2 are reported. We identified functional DSC and DSP systems with PMI-sensitised TiO2 in aqueous solution, which permitted a side-by-side comparison with respect to performance between the two systems. Structure-activity relationships allowed us to suggest anchor-condition-system associations to suit specific anchoring groups at various pH values, and with different electron mediators (redox couple or sacrificial electron donor) and catalysts in DSC and DSP schemes. A DSC sensitised with the hydroxyquinoline-modified PMI dye reached the highest short-circuit current density (J SC ? 1.4 mA cm-2) in aqueous electrolyte solution during irradiation with simulated solar light. This dye also achieved a turnover number (TONPMI) of approximately 4900 for sacrificial proton reduction after 24 h irradiation in a DSP scheme with Pt as a H2-evolving co-catalyst at pH 4.5. This performance was only surpassed by the carboxylic acid-bearing dye, which reached a new benchmark turnover number (TONPMI ? 1.1 × 104 after 72 h) for an organic dye in nanoparticulate DSP for solar fuel production. At higher pH (8.5), our results showed that the phosphonic acid group allows for higher performance due to a stronger anchoring ability. This study provides a platform for aqueous PMI dye-sensitised TiO2 chemistry and gives valuable insights into the performance of different anchoring groups in DSC and DSP systems.

Dataset Information

Urine microbial fuel cells in a semi-controlled environment for onsite urine pre-treatment and electricity production.

Publications

Urine microbial fuel cells in a semi-controlled environment for onsite urine pre-treatment and electricity production.

Similar Datasets

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