Extending the dynamic range of biochemical oxygen demand sensing with multi-stage microbial fuel cells
Extending the dynamic range of biochemical oxygen demand sensing with multi-stage microbial fuel cells
Water quality sensing is a promising application for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as the outputs have been shown to correlate with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Nonetheless to date, the upper limit of amperometric linear calibrations from MFC-based BOD sensors has been limited to approximately 250-340 mg l-1 BOD5, attributed to substrate saturation of the anodic biofilm. In this study, an extended detection range was obtained using an array of three MFCs linked hydraulically in series. The sum of the current density generated from each MFC in the array was calibrated against BOD5 and a linear response was obtained up to 720 mg l-1 BOD5 (1175 mg l-1 COD) with R2 of 97%. The dynamic range was double that achieved by the first MFC in the array operating individually. Average response time to reach a stable current for reliable quantification was 2.3 hours, a considerable improvement on the standard 5 day BOD test. The anodic biofilm of the sensor was dominated by Geobacter spp. and members of Porphyromonadaceae and these bacteria were likely responsible for electricity generation through syntrophy with fermenting bacteria also present in the biofilm. The dynamic range of the multi-stage MFC sensor could be increased by increasing the hydraulic retention time. The modular mode of operation demonstrated here allows the dynamic range of the sensor to be extended, permitting analysis of BOD concentrations ranging from those typical of municipal wastewater up to those found in certain industrial wastewaters. Critically, sensitive measurement of both low and high levels of organic carbon without requiring amendment or dilution could be achieved online and in real-time with this practical, low-cost MFC configuration.
2029-2040
Spurr, Martin W.A.
78e1284f-f5fe-4abb-a3fe-292a4b6a728f
Yu, Eileen H.
28e47863-4b50-4821-b80b-71fb5a2edef2
Scott, Keith
38909157-296d-4fe7-a245-1b98e1fee913
Head, Ian M.
45e5ea84-bd86-4ffd-a6e3-64b23dc711d2
Spurr, Martin W.A.
78e1284f-f5fe-4abb-a3fe-292a4b6a728f
Yu, Eileen H.
28e47863-4b50-4821-b80b-71fb5a2edef2
Scott, Keith
38909157-296d-4fe7-a245-1b98e1fee913
Head, Ian M.
45e5ea84-bd86-4ffd-a6e3-64b23dc711d2
Spurr, Martin W.A., Yu, Eileen H., Scott, Keith and Head, Ian M.
(2018)
Extending the dynamic range of biochemical oxygen demand sensing with multi-stage microbial fuel cells.
Environmental Science: Water Research and Technology, 4 (12), .
(doi:10.1039/c8ew00497h).
Abstract
Water quality sensing is a promising application for microbial fuel cells (MFCs) as the outputs have been shown to correlate with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Nonetheless to date, the upper limit of amperometric linear calibrations from MFC-based BOD sensors has been limited to approximately 250-340 mg l-1 BOD5, attributed to substrate saturation of the anodic biofilm. In this study, an extended detection range was obtained using an array of three MFCs linked hydraulically in series. The sum of the current density generated from each MFC in the array was calibrated against BOD5 and a linear response was obtained up to 720 mg l-1 BOD5 (1175 mg l-1 COD) with R2 of 97%. The dynamic range was double that achieved by the first MFC in the array operating individually. Average response time to reach a stable current for reliable quantification was 2.3 hours, a considerable improvement on the standard 5 day BOD test. The anodic biofilm of the sensor was dominated by Geobacter spp. and members of Porphyromonadaceae and these bacteria were likely responsible for electricity generation through syntrophy with fermenting bacteria also present in the biofilm. The dynamic range of the multi-stage MFC sensor could be increased by increasing the hydraulic retention time. The modular mode of operation demonstrated here allows the dynamic range of the sensor to be extended, permitting analysis of BOD concentrations ranging from those typical of municipal wastewater up to those found in certain industrial wastewaters. Critically, sensitive measurement of both low and high levels of organic carbon without requiring amendment or dilution could be achieved online and in real-time with this practical, low-cost MFC configuration.
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Accepted/In Press date: 20 September 2018
e-pub ahead of print date: 28 September 2018
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 498839
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/498839
ISSN: 2053-1400
PURE UUID: 1dec259c-1800-4811-9b19-3e715dabdab4
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Date deposited: 03 Mar 2025 18:13
Last modified: 04 Mar 2025 03:16
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Contributors
Author:
Martin W.A. Spurr
Author:
Eileen H. Yu
Author:
Keith Scott
Author:
Ian M. Head
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