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This study compares the power generation of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with different electrodes, including coated and non-coated carbon electrodes, for treating municipal sludge. The results show that Fe2O3-coated carbon anodes and Pt on carbon cathodes generate the highest power density. The study suggests that Fe2O3 can be a cost-effective alternative to Pt as a catalyst in MFCs.

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What they did

System
MFC

What worked

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Abstract

This study aims to provide insight into the cost-effective catalyst on power generation in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) for treatment of municipal sludge. Power production from MFCs with carbon, Fe2O3, and Pt electrodes were compared. The MFC with no coating on carbon generated the least power density (6.72 mW·m⁻²) while the MFC with Fe2O3-coating on carbon anodes and carbon cathodes generated a 78% higher power output (30.18 mW·m⁻²). The third MFC with Fe2O3-coated carbon anodes and Pt on carbon as the cathode catalyst generated the highest power density (73.16 mW·m⁻²) at room temperature. Although the power generated with a conventional Pt catalyst was more than two-fold higher than Fe2O3, this study suggests that Fe2O3 can be investigated further as an efficient, low-cost, and alternative catalyst of Pt, which can be optimized for improving performance of MFCs. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV) results demonstrated reduced resistance of MFCs and better charge transfer between biofilm and electrodes containing coated anodes compared to non-coated anodes. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to analyze biofilm morphology and microbial community analysis was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, which revealed the presence of known anaerobic fermenters and methanogens that may play a key role in energy generation in the MFCs.

Key findings

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Keywords

Microbial fuel cellDielectric spectroscopyAnodeCarbon fibersCyclic voltammetryChemical engineering

Identifiers

DOI
10.3390/en12061034
Journal
Energies
Year
2019