Microbial fuel cells: novel biotechnology for energy generation

Rabaey, Korneel; Verstraete, W.

doi:10.1016/j.tibtech.2005.04.008

Cited by 1,959 publications

(1,027 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The experiments described above showed that an improved catalytic activity of MR-1 could be achieved by manipulation of culture conditions: this demonstration, however, was carried out under energy-consuming potentiostatic control. The efficiency of power-producing devices such as MFCs is restricted by internal resistances and potential losses 37 and therefore the conditions applied in the potentiostatically controlled experiments needed to be verified in MFCs. As the primary purpose in this instance was to compare the different conditions, the same simple reactor configuration was used, which had a relatively small ion exchange membrane area and low electrode TASA to volume ratio.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Performance of Hexavalent Chromium Reducing Cathodes in the Presence ofShewanella oneidensisMR-1 and Lactate

Xafenias

Zhang

Banks

2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

136

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Biocathodes for the reduction of the highly toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) were investigated using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (MR-1) as a bio-catalyst and performance was assessed in terms of current production and Cr(VI) reduction. Potentiostatically controlled experiments (-500 mV vs. Ag/AgCl) showed that a mediatorless MR-1 biocathode started up 2 under aerated conditions in the presence of lactate, received 5.5 and 1.7 times more electrons for Cr(VI) reduction over a 4-hour operating period than controls without lactate and with lactate but without MR-1, respectively. Cr(VI) reduction was also enhanced, with a decrease in concentration over the 4-h operating period of 9 mg/L Cr(VI), compared to only 1 and 3 mg/L respectively in the controls. Riboflavin, an electron shuttle mediator naturally produced by MR-1, was also found to have a positive impact in potentiostatically controlled cathodes. Additionally, a microbial fuel cell (MFC) with MR-1 and lactate present in both anode and cathode produced a maximum current density of 32.5 mA/m 2 (1,000 Ω external load) after receiving a 10 mg/L Cr(VI) addition in the cathode, and cathodic efficiency increased steadily over an 8-day operation period with successive Cr(VI) additions. In conclusion, effective and continuous Cr(VI) reduction with associated current production were achieved when MR-1 and lactate were both present in the biocathodes. INTRODUCTIONHexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a highly toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic substance that is present in the effluent streams of a wide range of industrial processes, including electroplating, leather tanning and wood preserving 1 . It is highly soluble and, because of its long history of use and often its disposal after inappropriate or no treatment, it has become one of the most abundant inorganic contaminants in groundwater. Ideally Cr(VI) should be removed from groundwater in the natural environment, and because of the inherent dangers to health the stringent guideline limit of 50 μg/L has been issued for total chromium concentration in drinking water 1,2 . Removal options include ion-exchange, adsorption and electrodialysis 3 ; however in many of these applications chromium keeps its toxic hexavalent state. Reduction of Cr(VI) to the considerably 3 less toxic trivalent form Cr(III) and its subsequent precipitation at neutral pH could be considered a more effective remediation strategy 4 .A possible method for Cr(VI) reduction using a microbial fuel cell (MFC) has recently been proposed, where Cr(VI) was used as an oxidant in the cathode to generate an electrical energy output 5,6 . At low pH values where H + is abundant, cathodic Cr(VI) reduction has been demonstrated at relatively fast rates and without the use of a catalyst 5,6 . In the neutral pH region, however, the reaction kinetics are slower due to low H + availability:CrO 4 2-+ 8H + + 3e -= Cr 3+ + 4H 2 O (1) At neutral pH, Cr(VI) reduction takes place under lower cathode potentials and is also severely inhibited by Cr(III) oxyhydroxide monolayers w...

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Enhanced Performance of Hexavalent Chromium Reducing Cathodes in the Presence ofShewanella oneidensisMR-1 and Lactate

Xafenias

Zhang

Banks

2013

Environ. Sci. Technol.

136

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“…Microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which can use exoelectrogens as biocatalysts to directly convert chemical energy to electricity, hold a broad prospect in the field of waste water treatment and renewable energy development (Logan, 2009;Logan et al, 2006;Rabaey and Verstraete, 2005;Zhao et al, 2009). The exoelectrogens that can generate electrons from degrading organic matters and extracellularly transfer electrons play a significant role in MFCs.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The direct electrocatalysis of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid excreted by Pseudomonas alcaliphila under alkaline condition in microbial fuel cells

Zhang

et al. 2011

Bioresource Technology

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“…In MFCs, bioenergy in wastewater is extracted through the interaction between microbes and electrodes in the anodic compartment and the produced electrons are transferred to a cathode electrode through an external circuit (Logan et al 2006). Comparing with the conventional activated sludge (CAS) process, MFC technology requires less energy input, yields less sludge, and produces useful bio-electricity (Li et al 2014c;Rabaey and Verstraete 2005;Zhang et al 2013). Combining a membrane separation process with MFCs helps to achieve high-quality effluent, and the combined system is called membrane bioelectrochemical reactors (MBERs) or bioelectrochemical membrane reactors (BEMRs).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Development of a dynamic mathematical model for membrane bioelectrochemical reactors with different configurations

2015

Environ Sci Pollut Res

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Membrane bioelectrochemical reactors (MBERs) integrate membrane filtration into bioelectrochemical systems for sustainable wastewater treatment and recovery of bioenergy and other resource. Mathematical models for MBERs will advance the understanding of this technology towards further development. In the present study, a mathematical model was implemented for predicting current generation, membrane fouling, and organic removal within MBERs. The relative root-mean-square error was used to examine the model fit to the experimental data. It was found that a constant to determine how fast the internal resistance responds to the change of the anodophillic microorganism concentration could have a dominant impact on current generation. Hydraulic cross-flow exhibited a minor effect on membrane fouling unless it was reduced below 0.5 m s −1 . This MBER model encourages further optimization and eventually can be used to guide MBER development.

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Microbial fuel cells: novel biotechnology for energy generation

Cited by 1,959 publications

References 51 publications

Enhanced Performance of Hexavalent Chromium Reducing Cathodes in the Presence ofShewanella oneidensisMR-1 and Lactate

Enhanced Performance of Hexavalent Chromium Reducing Cathodes in the Presence ofShewanella oneidensisMR-1 and Lactate

The direct electrocatalysis of phenazine-1-carboxylic acid excreted by Pseudomonas alcaliphila under alkaline condition in microbial fuel cells

Development of a dynamic mathematical model for membrane bioelectrochemical reactors with different configurations

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