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This study developed an integrated system combining parallel-connected microbial fuel cells (MFC) and microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) for green hydrogen production, enhancing power generation and hydrogen production rates. The system achieved a higher hydrogen production rate when operated in battery-assisted mode. The findings demonstrate the feasibility of integrated MFC-MEC systems for self-powered hydrogen production from organic wastewater.

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What they did

System
MEC

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Abstract

The growing demand for sustainable wastewater valorization and renewable hydrogen energy has amplified the need for systems capable of recovering energy and producing hydrogen without external electricity input. In this study, ten single microbial fuel cells (MFC) were connected in parallel to enhance power generation, and the electricity produced was controlled using a power management system. The energy was then directly supplied to a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) in real time and stored in a battery prior to the MEC operation. When directly connected, the MFC-MEC system achieved a hydrogen production rate of 0.08 m 3 /m 3 /d, while the battery-assisted mode reached 0.66 m 3 /m 3 /d, demonstrating an eight-fold increase. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of integrated MFC-MEC systems for self-powered hydrogen production, offering a potential pathway for transforming organic wastewater into hydrogen as a renewable energy carrier.

Keywords

Bioelectrochemical technologyEnergy storageParallel connectionPower management systemRenewable bioenergy recoverySelf-powered hydrogen generation

Identifiers

PubMed
41062038
Journal
Bioresource technology
Year
2025