Electricity generation from carbon monoxide in a single chamber microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Electricity production from carbon monoxide (CO) is demonstrated in a single chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) with a CoTMPP-based air cathode. The MFC was inoculated with anaerobic sludge and continuously sparged with CO as a sole carbon source. Volumetric power output was maximized at a CO flow rate of 4.8LLR⁻¹d⁻¹ reaching 6.4mWLR⁻¹. Several soluble and gaseous degradation products including hydrogen, methane, and acetate were detected, resulting in a relatively low apparent Coulombic efficiency of 8.7%. Tests also demonstrated electricity production from hydrogen and acetate with the highest and fastest increase in voltage exhibited after acetate injection. It is hypothesized that electricity generation in a CO-fed MFC is accomplished by a consortium of carboxydotrophic and carbon monoxide - tolerant anodophilic microorganisms.

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Identifiers

DOI

10.1016/j.enzmictec.2010.02.010

PubMed

25919620

Journal

Enzyme and Microbial Technology

Year

2010