Dataset Information

Bioelectricity Generation in a Microbial Fuel Cell with a Self-Sustainable Photocathode.

ABSTRACT: This study aims to construct an MFC with a photosynthetic algae cathode, which is maintained by self-capturing CO2 released from the anode and utilizing solar energy as energy input. With this system, a maximum power density of 187 mW/m(2) is generated when the anode off gas is piped into the catholyte under light illumination, which is higher than that of 21 mW/m(2) in the dark, demonstrating the vital contribution of the algal photosynthesis. However, an unexpected maximum power density of 146 mW/m(2) is achieved when the anode off gas is not piped into the catholyte. Measurements of cathodic microenvironments reveal that algal photosynthesis still takes place for oxygen production under this condition, suggesting the occurrence of CO2 crossover from anode to cathode through the Nafion membrane. The results of this study provide further understanding of the algae-based microbial carbon capture cell (MCC) and are helpful in improving MCC performance.

SUBMITTER: Liu T

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4430660 | biostudies-other | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-other

ACCESS DATA

Similar Datasets

Project description:BackgroundMicrobial fuel cells (MFCs) are among the leading research topics in the field of alternative energy sources due to their multifunctional potential. However, their low bio-energy production rate and unstable performance limit their application in the real world. Therefore, optimization is needed to deploy MFCs beyond laboratory-scale experiments. In this study, we investigated the combined influence of electrode material (EM), electrode spacing (ES), and substrate feeding interval (SFI) on microbial community diversity and the electrochemical behavior of a soil MFC (S-MFC) for sustainable bio-electricity generation.ResultsTwo EMs (carbon felt (CF) and stainless steel/epoxy/carbon black composite (SEC)) were tested in an S-MFC under three levels of ES (2, 4, and 8 cm) and SFI (4, 6, and 8 days). After 30 days of operation, all MFCs achieved open-circuit voltage in the range of 782 + 12.2 mV regardless of the treatment. However, the maximum power of the SEC-MFC was 3.6 times higher than that of the CF-MFC under the same experimental conditions. The best solution, based on the interactive influence of the two discrete variables, was obtained with SEC at an ES of 4.31 cm and an SFI of 7.4 days during an operating period of 66 days. Analysis of the experimental treatment effects of the variables revealed the order SFI < ES < EM, indicating that EM is the most influential factor affecting the performance of S-MFC. The performance of S-MFC at a given ES value was found to be dependent on the levels of SFI with the SEC electrode, but this interactive influence was found to be insignificant with the CF electrode. The microbial bioinformatic analysis of the samples from the S-MFCs revealed that both electrodes (SEC and CF) supported the robust metabolism of electroactive microbes with similar morphological and compositional characteristics, independent of ES and SFI. The complex microbial community showed significant compositional changes at the anode and cathode over time.ConclusionThis study has demonstrated that the performance of S-MFC depends mainly on the electrode materials and not on the diversity of the constituent microbial communities. The performance of S-MFCs can be improved using electrode materials with pseudocapacitive properties and a larger surface area, instead of using unmodified CF electrodes commonly used in S-MFC systems.

Dataset Information

Bioelectricity Generation in a Microbial Fuel Cell with a Self-Sustainable Photocathode.

Similar Datasets

OmicsDI is part of the ELIXIR infrastructure

Tweets