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Simultaneous electricity generation and microbially-assisted electrosynthesis in ceramic MFCs

Simultaneous electricity generation and microbially-assisted electrosynthesis in ceramic MFCs
Simultaneous electricity generation and microbially-assisted electrosynthesis in ceramic MFCs
To date, the development of microbially assisted synthesis in Bioelectrochemical Systems (BESs) has focused on mechanisms that consume energy in order to drive the electrosynthesis process. This work reports – for the first time – on novel ceramic MFC systems that generate electricity whilst simultaneously driving the electrosynthesis of useful chemical products. A novel, inexpensive and low maintenance MFC demonstrated electrical power production and implementation into a practical application. Terracotta based tubular MFCs were able to produce sufficient power to operate an LED continuously over a 7 day period with a concomitant 92% COD reduction. Whilst the MFCs were generating energy, an alkaline solution was produced on the cathode that was directly related to the amount of power generated. The alkaline catholyte was able to fix CO2 into carbonate/bicarbonate salts. This approach implies carbon capture and storage (CCS), effectively capturing CO2 through wet caustic ‘scrubbing’ on the cathode, which ultimately locks carbon dioxide.
Terracotta MFC, Wet scrubbing, Catholyte generation, Water recovery, Microbially assisted electrosynthesis
1567-5394
58-64
Gajda, Iwona
943dd6bd-524b-4c7b-b794-dec5ee8014b7
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Melhuish, Chris
c52dcc8b-1e36-425e-80df-9d05d2b21893
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Gajda, Iwona
943dd6bd-524b-4c7b-b794-dec5ee8014b7
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Melhuish, Chris
c52dcc8b-1e36-425e-80df-9d05d2b21893
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13

Gajda, Iwona, Greenman, John, Melhuish, Chris and Ieropoulos, Ioannis (2015) Simultaneous electricity generation and microbially-assisted electrosynthesis in ceramic MFCs. Bioelectrochemistry, 104, 58-64. (doi:10.1016/j.bioelechem.2015.03.001).

Record type: Article

Abstract

To date, the development of microbially assisted synthesis in Bioelectrochemical Systems (BESs) has focused on mechanisms that consume energy in order to drive the electrosynthesis process. This work reports – for the first time – on novel ceramic MFC systems that generate electricity whilst simultaneously driving the electrosynthesis of useful chemical products. A novel, inexpensive and low maintenance MFC demonstrated electrical power production and implementation into a practical application. Terracotta based tubular MFCs were able to produce sufficient power to operate an LED continuously over a 7 day period with a concomitant 92% COD reduction. Whilst the MFCs were generating energy, an alkaline solution was produced on the cathode that was directly related to the amount of power generated. The alkaline catholyte was able to fix CO2 into carbonate/bicarbonate salts. This approach implies carbon capture and storage (CCS), effectively capturing CO2 through wet caustic ‘scrubbing’ on the cathode, which ultimately locks carbon dioxide.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 17 March 2015
e-pub ahead of print date: 18 March 2015
Published date: August 2015
Keywords: Terracotta MFC, Wet scrubbing, Catholyte generation, Water recovery, Microbially assisted electrosynthesis

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 454589
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454589
ISSN: 1567-5394
PURE UUID: 3e609241-2595-47d5-b750-dd4e7f7254a7
ORCID for Ioannis Ieropoulos: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-5504

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 16 Feb 2022 17:47
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10

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Contributors

Author: Iwona Gajda
Author: John Greenman
Author: Chris Melhuish

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