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Three-dimensional electrodes enhance electricity generation and nitrogen removal of microbial fuel cells

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Abstract

One of the critical problems for practical application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is the poor electron transfer between microbial cells and anode. Hence, good biocompatibility and high specific surface area of electrodes are indispensable for MFC scale-up. In this study, three-dimensional electrode MFC (3DEMFC) was developed by filling biochar between anode and cathode. Three types of biochar electrodes (biochar, biochar and zeolite mixture, and MgO-modified biochar) were employed, and the performance of 3DEMFCs treating nitrogen in wastewater was investigated. The results showed that the highest power density of MFCs was 4.45 ± 0.21 W m−3 achieved by 3DEMFC filled with MgO-modified biochar, and the overall power generation of 3DEMFCs (2.40 ± 0.28 ~ 4.45 ± 0.21 W m−3) was higher than that of MFC without biochar (1.31 ± 0.24 W m−3). The linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) results also demonstrated biochar addition to MFC was conducive to electron transfer between microbes and anode and MgO-modified biochar presented the highest coulombs transfer ability. Moreover, the highest removal efficiencies of ammonium, total nitrogen, and COD (93.6 ± 3.2%, 84.8 ± 2%, and 91.6 ± 1.3%, respectively) were achieved by 3DEMFC containing MgO-modified biochar, and simultaneous short-cut nitrification and denitrification were observed in MFCs. Furthermore, the SEM images displayed the bacteria adhesion on biochar and the biofilm dry weights of MgO-modified biochar after experiment was the highest of 103 ± 4 mg g−1 among three kinds of biochar electrodes. Therefore, the power generation and nitrogen removal conspicuously enhanced in 3DEMFCs and biochar exhibited excellent biocompatibility and distinct electrochemical performance for MFC practical applications in wastewater treatment.

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Acknowledgements

This work is financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 41907163).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of New Energy and Environment, Jilin University, Changchun, 130021, China

    Jun Dong, Yue Wu, Chengye Wang & Yan Li

  2. Key Laboratory of Groundwater Resources and Environment (Jilin University), Ministry of Education, Changchun, 130021, China

    Jun Dong, Yue Wu, Chengye Wang & Yan Li

  3. National and Local Joint Engineering Laboratory for Petrochemical Contaminated Site Control and Remediation Technology, Changchun, 130021, China

    Jun Dong, Yue Wu, Chengye Wang & Yan Li

  4. Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing, 100012, China

    Haojie Lu

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Correspondence to Yan Li.

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Dong, J., Wu, Y., Wang, C. et al. Three-dimensional electrodes enhance electricity generation and nitrogen removal of microbial fuel cells. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 43, 2165–2174 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02402-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-020-02402-9

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