Co‐substrate‐fed microbial fuel cell for enhanced power generation and removal of groundwater contaminants

Abstract

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) could be adopted as one of the biotechnological new approaches for removing groundwater contaminants of petroleum hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, and ethylbenzene, and simultaneously producing electricity. In this study, we have compared performances of single-chamber MFCs in terms of power density and removal efficiency when operated under two different feeding conditions. In one experiment, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and phenol (BTEP) were individually fed to the MFC reactor without acetate. In another experiment, acetate was added as a cosubstrate. When operated in a batch mode, both cases showed almost complete BTEP removal efficiency while the former case produced negligible power density of ca. 1 mW/m 2 and the latter case 0.13-0.44 W/m 2 . These results imply that MFCs are promising technology for removing petroleum contaminants and for simultaneously producing electricity when suitable organic substances are provided.

Bioelectrochemical Remediation for the Removal of Petroleum Hydrocarbon Contaminants in Soil

“…Therefore, sustainable ORR catalysts, such as platinum-group-metal (PGM)-free catalysts, should be applied on the air cathode side of BESs for enhanced ORR kinetics [152][153][154]. Experimental parameters such as the application of imposed potential and the addition of an organic cosubstrate in contaminated soil can further accelerate microbial metabolism and, thus, improve performance [142,155]. The integration of an anodic Fenton process similar to that tested in MFCs for highly organic contaminated wastewater treatment could be helpful to oxidize higher-chain PHs to release stress in the soil [156].…”