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Suitability of granular carbon as an anode material for sediment microbial fuel cells

  • SEDIMENTS, SEC 5 • SEDIMENT MANAGEMENT • RESEARCH ARTICLE
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Sediment microbial fuel cells (S-MFCs) are bio-electrochemical devices that are able to oxidize organic matter directly into harvestable electrical power. The flux of organic matter into the sediment is rather low; therefore, other researchers have introduced plants for a continuous supply of organic matter to the anode electrode. Until now only interconnected materials have been considered as anode materials in S-MFCs. Here, granular carbon materials were investigated for their suitability as an anode material in S-MFCs.

Materials and methods

Laboratory microcosms with eight different electrode materials (granules, felts and cloths) were examined with controlled organic matter addition under brackish conditions. Current density, organic matter removal and microbial community composition were monitored using 16S rRNA gene PCR followed by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). The main parameters investigated were the influence of the amount of electrode material applied to the sediment, the size of the granular material and the electrode configuration.

Results and discussion

Felt material had an overall superior performance in terms of current density per amount of applied electrode material; felt and granular anode obtained similar current densities (approx. 50–60 mA m−2), but felt materials required 29 % less material to be applied. Yet, when growing plants, granular carbon is more suited because it is considered to restore, upon disturbance, the electrical connectivity within the anode compartment. Small granules (0.25–0.5 mm) gave the highest current density compared to larger granules (1–5 mm) of the same material. Granules with a rough surface had a better performance compared to smooth granules of the same size. The different granular materials lead to a selection of distinct microbial communities for each material, as shown by DGGE.

Conclusions

Granular carbon is suitable as an anode material for S-MFCs. This opens the possibility for application of S-MFCs in cultivated areas. In a wider context, the application of granular carbon electrodes can also be an option for in situ bioremediation of contaminated soils.

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Acknowledgments

This research received funding from the European Community Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007-2013 under grant agreement no. 226532. The authors gratefully acknowledge Matthieu Picot, University de Rennes 1, for help with SEM analysis. Tim Lacoere is thanked for help with the molecular biological analysis. The authors thank Jo de Vrieze and Carlos Zamalloa for helpful suggestions and fruitful discussions.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000, Gent, Belgium

    Jan B. A. Arends, Evelyne Blondeel, Nico Boon & Willy Verstraete

  2. Mast Carbon International Ltd., Basingstoke, Hampshire, RG22 4BA, UK

    Steve R. Tennison

Authors
  1. Jan B. A. Arends
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  2. Evelyne Blondeel
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  3. Steve R. Tennison
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  4. Nico Boon
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  5. Willy Verstraete
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Willy Verstraete.

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Responsible editor: Gijs Breedveld

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Arends, J.B.A., Blondeel, E., Tennison, S.R. et al. Suitability of granular carbon as an anode material for sediment microbial fuel cells. J Soils Sediments 12, 1197–1206 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0537-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-012-0537-6

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