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Evaluation of microbial fuel cell operation using algae as an oxygen supplier: carbon paper cathode vs. carbon brush cathode

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Abstract

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) and its cathode performances were compared with use of carbon fiber brush and plain carbon paper cathode electrodes in algae aeration. The MFC having carbon fiber brush cathode exhibited a voltage of 0.21 ± 0.01 V (1,000 Ω) with a cathode potential of around −0.14 ± 0.01 V in algal aeration, whereas MFC with plain carbon paper cathode resulted in a voltage of 0.06 ± 0.005 V with a cathode potential of −0.39 ± 0.01 V. During polarizations, MFC equipped with carbon fiber brush cathode showed a maximum power density of 30 mW/m2, whereas the MFC equipped with plain carbon paper showed a power density of 4.6 mW/m2. In algae aeration, the internal resistance with carbon fiber brush cathode was 804 Ω and with plain carbon paper it was 1,210 Ω. The peak currents of MFC operation with carbon fiber brush and plain carbon paper cathodes were −31 mA and −850 µA, respectively.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank Kwang-Soon Choi, Jung mi Moon, Sanath Kondaveeti and Li Na for their help in carrying this work. This study was supported by Kyung Hee University (Project Number 20110479).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seocheon-dong, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, 446-701, Republic of Korea

    Ramesh Kakarla & Booki Min

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  1. Ramesh Kakarla
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  2. Booki Min
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Correspondence to Booki Min.

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449_2014_1223_MOESM1_ESM.doc

Supplementary information: Fig. S1 Voltage and DO concentration of MFC with (a) PCPC and (b) CFBC in mechanical aerationFig. S2 MFC CFBC potentials, respective anode potentials with and without sodium bicarbonate (0, 2 and 4 g/L) supplement in algae aerated cathode

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Kakarla, R., Min, B. Evaluation of microbial fuel cell operation using algae as an oxygen supplier: carbon paper cathode vs. carbon brush cathode. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 37, 2453–2461 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-014-1223-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-014-1223-4

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