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MFC-cascade stacks maximise COD reduction and avoid voltage reversal under adverse conditions

MFC-cascade stacks maximise COD reduction and avoid voltage reversal under adverse conditions
MFC-cascade stacks maximise COD reduction and avoid voltage reversal under adverse conditions
Six continuous-flow Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) configured as a vertical cascade and tested under different electrical connections are presented. When in parallel, stable operation and higher power and current densities than individual MFCs were observed, despite substrate imbalances. The cascading dynamic allowed for a cumulative COD reduction of >95% in approximately 5.7 h, equivalent to 7.97 kg COD m−3 d−1. Under a series configuration, the stack exhibited considerable losses until correct fluidic/electrical insulation of the units was applied, upon which the stack also exhibited superior performance. In both electrical configurations, the 6MFC system was systematically starved for up to 15 d, with no significant performance degradation. The results from the 14-month trials, demonstrate that cascade-stacking of small units can result in enhanced electricity production (vs single large units) and treatment rates without using expensive catalysts. It is also demonstrated that substrate imbalances and starvation do not necessarily result in cell-voltage reversal.
Microbial fuel cells, Stacking, Wastewater treatment, Voltage reversal
0960-8524
158-165
Ledezma, Pablo
bae34594-33d7-4dfe-98b7-e13ba49b4aac
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13
Ledezma, Pablo
bae34594-33d7-4dfe-98b7-e13ba49b4aac
Greenman, John
eb3d9b82-7cac-4442-9301-f34884ae4a16
Ieropoulos, Ioannis
6c580270-3e08-430a-9f49-7fbe869daf13

Ledezma, Pablo, Greenman, John and Ieropoulos, Ioannis (2013) MFC-cascade stacks maximise COD reduction and avoid voltage reversal under adverse conditions. Bioresource Technology, 134, 158-165. (doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2013.01.119).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Six continuous-flow Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) configured as a vertical cascade and tested under different electrical connections are presented. When in parallel, stable operation and higher power and current densities than individual MFCs were observed, despite substrate imbalances. The cascading dynamic allowed for a cumulative COD reduction of >95% in approximately 5.7 h, equivalent to 7.97 kg COD m−3 d−1. Under a series configuration, the stack exhibited considerable losses until correct fluidic/electrical insulation of the units was applied, upon which the stack also exhibited superior performance. In both electrical configurations, the 6MFC system was systematically starved for up to 15 d, with no significant performance degradation. The results from the 14-month trials, demonstrate that cascade-stacking of small units can result in enhanced electricity production (vs single large units) and treatment rates without using expensive catalysts. It is also demonstrated that substrate imbalances and starvation do not necessarily result in cell-voltage reversal.

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More information

Accepted/In Press date: 21 January 2013
e-pub ahead of print date: 29 January 2013
Published date: April 2013
Keywords: Microbial fuel cells, Stacking, Wastewater treatment, Voltage reversal

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 454629
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/454629
ISSN: 0960-8524
PURE UUID: 562070dd-85a4-4ba5-a6c0-fdf57b2fd51b
ORCID for Ioannis Ieropoulos: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0002-9641-5504

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Date deposited: 17 Feb 2022 17:39
Last modified: 17 Mar 2024 04:10

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Contributors

Author: Pablo Ledezma
Author: John Greenman

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