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Stackable and submergible microbial fuel cell modules for wastewater treatment

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Abstract

The stackable and submergible microbial fuel cell (SS-MFC) system was fabricated consisting of three MFC modules (#1, #2 and #3) that were immersed in an anaerobic tank as a 30 L anode compartment. Each module consisted of the anion exchange membrane–membrane electrode assembly (A-MEA) and cation exchange membrane-MEA (C-MEA). Two MEAs shared a cathode compartment in the module and the three modules shared a anode compartment The SS-MFC system was operated with two phase. After batch feeding (phase I), the system was operated under continuous mode (phase II) with different organic concentrations (from 50 to 1000 mg/L) and different hydraulic retention times (HRT; from 3.4 to 7.2 h). The SS-MFC system successfully produced a stable voltage. A-MEA generated a lower power density than the C-MEA because of the former’s high activation and resistance loss. C-MEA showed a higher average maximum power density (3.16 W/m3) than A-MEA (2.82 W/m3) at 70 mL/min (HRT of 7.2 h). The current density increased as the organic concentration was increased from 70 to 1000 mg/L in a manner consistent with Monod kinetics. When the HRT was increased from 3.4 to 7.2 h, the power densities of the C-MEAs increased from 34.3–40.9 to 40.7–45.7 mW/m2, but those of the A-MEAs decreased from 25.3–48.0 to 27.7–40.9 mW/m2. Although power generation was affected by HRT, organic concentrations, and separator types, the proposed SS-MFC modules can be applied to existing wastewater treatment plants.

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Acknowledgments

This research was financially supported by the second stage of the Brain Korea 21 Project in 2013 and by the Basic Science Research Program through the National Research Foundation of Korea (NRF) funded by the Ministry of Science, ICT & Future Planning (NRF-2015R1C1A1A01054204).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea

    Minsoo Kim & Changwon Kim

  2. Hanhwa E&C, Daejeon, South Korea

    Jaehwan Cha

  3. Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silla University, Busan, South Korea

    Jaecheul Yu

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  1. Minsoo Kim
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  2. Jaehwan Cha
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  3. Jaecheul Yu
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  4. Changwon Kim
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Correspondence to Changwon Kim.

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Kim, M., Cha, J., Yu, J. et al. Stackable and submergible microbial fuel cell modules for wastewater treatment. Bioprocess Biosyst Eng 39, 1191–1199 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-016-1597-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00449-016-1597-6

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