Effect of Anode Size, Membrane and Membrane Size on Power Generation and Wastewater Treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Using wastewater as substrate, taking anaerobic sludge as inoculant, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have emerged in recent years, which can generate electricity and accomplish wastewater treatment simultaneously. Based on the evaluation indexes of output voltage, coulombic efficiency, power density and TOC removal rate, three abiotic factors, anode size, membrane and membrane size, affecting MFC performance were investigated with an orthogonal experiment (L 4 (2 3 )). The results show that the impact order of factors through analyzing the value “R” was “anode size > membrane > membrane size”. The optimal set with these three factors for the performance of MFCs was big size anode, Naf-117 and big size membrane. Meanwhile, the high TOC removal rate (more than 90%) and high acetates consumed rate (100%) show the MFCs have strong ability of wastewater treatment. Cation exchange membrane Yumi-28 has compared ability of wastewater treatment and energy-production potential in MFC work.

Key findings

• ▸Anode size has the greatest impact on MFC performance.
• ▸Naf-117 membrane and big size membrane result in optimal MFC performance.
• ▸MFCs have strong ability for wastewater treatment, with TOC removal rate > 90% and acetates consumed rate = 100%.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.164.506

Journal

Applied Mechanics and Materials

Year

2012