A Microbial Fuel Cell Modified with Carbon Nanomaterials for Organic Removal and Denitrification

Abstract

This paper investigated microbial denitrification using electrochemical sources to replace organic matter as reductant. The work also involved developing a system that could be optimised for nitrate removal in applied situations such as water processing in fish farming or drinking water, where high nitrate levels represent a potential health problem. Consequently, the study examined a range of developments for the removal of nitrate from water based on the development of electrochemical biotransformation systems for nitrate removal. This also offers considerable scope for the potential application of these systems in broader bionanotechnology based processes. Furthermore, the work discussed the context of improved microbial fuel cell (MFC) performance, potential analytic applications, and further innovations using a bionanotechnology approach to analyse cell-electrode interactions. High nitrate removal rate of more than 95% was successfully achieved by using a MFC system modified with carbon nanomaterials.

Key findings

• ▸High nitrate removal rate of more than 95% was achieved using a MFC system modified with carbon nanomaterials.
• ▸The use of electrochemical sources replaced organic matter as reductant in microbial denitrification.
• ▸The system has potential applications in water processing in fish farming and drinking water treatment.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.1155/2013/410916

Journal

Mathematical Problems in Engineering

Year

2012