Jae Kyung Jang

OPERATIONAL PARAMETERS AFFECTING THE PERFORMANCE OF A MEDIATOR-LESS MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

A mediator-less microbial fuel cell was optimized in terms of various operating conditions. Current generation was dependent on several factors such as pH, resistance, electrolyte used, and dissolved oxygen concentration in the cathode compartment. The highest current was generated at pH 7. Under the operating conditions, the resistance was the rate-determining factor at over 500 omega. With resistance lower than 500 omega, proton transfer and dissolved oxygen (DO) supply limited the cathode reaction. A high strength buffer reduced the proton limitation to some extent. The DO concentration was around 6 mg l(-1) at the DO limited condition. The fact that oxygen limitation was observed at high DO concentration is believed to be due to the poor oxygen reducing activity of the electrode used, graphite. The current showed linear relationship with the fuel added at low concentration, and the electronic charge was well correlated with substrate concentration from up to 400 mg l(-1) of COD(cr). The microbial fuel cell might be used as a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor.

CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF A NOVEL MEDIATOR AND MEMBRANE-LESS MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

Abstract A membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) with the internal resistance of 3.9 MΩ was used to enrich a microbial consortium oxidizing electron donors with concomitant current generation. Within 4 weeks the system generated a stable current of 2 mA. The current yield was less than 10%. Forced aeration to the cathode compartment generated higher current, but the yield was similar. Use of a cathode with a higher affinity for oxygen could improve the current yield. Additions of NaCl or HCl increased the current generation further with the current yield of 15%. Aerobic microbes turned out to be the predominant oxygen consumer at the cathode. Based on these findings suggestions are made for a ML-MFC configuration with better performance.

Continuous determination of biochemical oxygen demand using microbial fuel cell type biosensor

A mediator-less microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used as a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) sensor in an amperometric mode for real-time wastewater monitoring. At a hydraulic retention time of 1.05 h, BOD values of up to 100 mg/l were measured based on a linear relationship, while higher BOD values were measured using a lower feeding rate. About 60 min was required to reach a new steady-state current after the MFCs had been fed with different strength artificial wastewaters (Aws). The current generated from the MFCs fed with AW with a BOD of 100 mg/l was compared to determine the repeatability, and the difference was less than 10%. When the MFC was starved, the original current value was regained with a varying recovery time depending on the length of the starvation. During starvation, the MFC generated a background level current, probably due to an endogenous metabolism.

A microbial fuel cell with improved cathode reaction as a low biochemical oxygen demand sensor

Mediator-less microbial fuel cells (MFC) enriched with oligotrophic microbes were optimized through enhancement of cathode reaction and lowering O2 diffusion into the anode compartment as a low BOD sensor. The optimization of the MFC has greatly improved the maximum current and coulomb yield. The oligotroph-type MFC could be used as a low BOD sensor with high operational stability, good repeatability and reproducibility.

Effect of the Application of Microbubbles and/or Catalyst on the Sludge Reduction and Organic matter of Livestock Wastewater

This study was tested to evaluate the effect of the six different combinations of microbubble, catalyst, and air as oxidant on the sludge and organic matter reduction. When all of microbubbles and catalyst, and an oxidizing agent (under Conditions 1) such as air were used, the sludge was removed more than 99%, and TCOD and SCOD removal was 58% and 13%, respectively. This result was the highest value of six conditions. In the following order, the sludge reduction of the microbubbles with air (Condition 2) and catalyst with air (condition 4) was 95% and 93.1%, respectively. TCOD removal was found to be each 53% and 47%. When the microbubbles were used with oxidant like air, the removal of sludge and organic matter was high. All of these values were higher than that of using only microbubbles and catalyst without air. In the microbubbles and catalyst react under air supply condition, OH-radicals were generated in the reaction process. These OH-radicals in the reaction process decomposed the pollutants by the strong oxidizing power. In all conditions with air, the sludge reduction was high removal rate more than 93% and TCOD removal was over 47%.

The Effect of the Reaction Time Increases of Microbubbles with Catalyst on the Nitrogen Reduction of Livestock Wastewater

It was investigated whether the removal of nitrogen ions included livestock wastewater were increased by increasing the reaction time of livestock wastewater and microbubbles with catalyst. For this study, the nitrogen reduction system using microbubbles with catalyst was used. The two reactors were consecutively arranged, and the second reactor (Step 2) was located to next the first reactor (Step 1). Each reactor was reacted for 2 hours and air or oxygen as oxidant was fed into the reactor during operation before microbubble device. When oxygen was used, ammonia nitrogen was removed each 18.3% and 52.8% during 2 (only step 1) and 4 (step 1 and step 2) hours reactions. This value was higher than that of when air was fed. When oxygen was used, the longer the reaction time, the ammonia nitrogen removal was higher. The longer the reaction time, the higher the nitrite and nitrate was also removed such as ammonia nitrogen. Also this system was examined whether organic matter removal is effective. The total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) removal was higher than the soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD). Some materials among causing substances COD were difficult to decompose biologically. Therefore, it means that it will be easy to operate the biological processes following step and reduce the concentration of organic contaminants in effluent.

Characterization of Polyester Cloth as an Alternative Separator to Nafion Membrane in Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioelectricity Generation Using Swine Wastewater.

Polyester cloth (PC) was selected as a prospective inexpensive substitute separator material for microbial fuel cells (MFCs). PC was compared with a traditional Nafion proton exchange membrane (PEM) as an MFC separator by analyzing its physical and electrochemical properties. A single layer of PC showed higher mass transfer (e.g., for O₂/H⁺/ions) than the Nafion PEM; in the case of oxygen mass transfer coefficient (ko), a rate of 50.0 × 10⁻⁵ cm·s⁻¹ was observed compared with a rate of 20.8 × 10⁻⁵ cm/s in the Nafion PEM. Increased numbers of PC layers were found to reduce the oxygen mass transfer coefficient. In addition, the diffusion coefficient of oxygen (DO) for PC (2.0-3.3 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s) was lower than that of the Nafion PEM (3.8 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s). The PC was found to have a low ohmic resistance (0.29-0.38 Ω) in the MFC, which was similar to that of Nafion PEM (0.31 Ω); this resulted in comparable maximum power density and maximum current density in MFCs with PC and those with Nafion PEMs. Moreover, a higher average current generation was observed in MFCs with PC (104.3 ± 15.3 A/m³) compared with MFCs with Nafion PEM (100.4 ± 17.7 A/m³), as well as showing insignificant degradation of the PC surface, during 177 days of use in swine wastewater. These results suggest that PC separators could serve as a low-cost alternative to Nafion PEMs for construction of cost-effective MFCs.

Improved Electricity Generation by a Microbial Fuel Cell after Pretreatment of Ammonium and Nitrate in Livestock Wastewater with Microbubbles and a Catalyst.

Livestock wastewater containing high concentrations of ammonium and nitrate ions was pretreated with microbubbles and an Fe/MgO catalyst prior to its application in microbial fuel cells because high ion concentrations can interfere with current generation. Therefore, tests were designed to ascertain the effect of pretreatment on current generation. In initial tests, the optimal amount of catalyst was found to be 300 g/l. When 1,000 ml/min O₂ was used as the oxidant, the removal of ammonium- and nitrate-nitrogen was highest. After the operating parameters were optimized, the removal of ammonium and nitrate ions was quantified. The maximum ammonium removal was 32.8%, and nitrate was removed by up to 75.8% at a 500 g/l catalyst concentration over the course of the 2 h reaction time. The current was about 0.5 mA when livestock wastewater was used without pretreatment, whereas the current increased to 2.14 ± 0.08 mA when livestock wastewater was pretreated with the method described above. This finding demonstrates that a 4-fold increase in the current can be achieved when using pretreated livestock wastewater. The maximum power density and current density performance were 10.3 W/m³ and 67.5 A/m³, respectively, during the evaluation of the microbial fuel cells driven by pretreated livestock wastewater.

Current Generation from Microbial Fuel Cell Using Stainless Steel Wire as Anode Electrode

Abstract : Anode electrode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) should transfer the receiving electron as well as provide large surface area that can be immobilized microorganisms. Microorganisms’ population is one of important factors to improve the current generation and to treat the livestock wastewater by biological treatment. These studies were attempted to investigate if stainless-steel wire skein (SSWS) could be used as anode electrode replacement a graphite felt electrode in microbial fuel cell. For these studies, pretreated livestock wastewater was used diluted to 500 mg/L as COD before use. At this time, the current showed a little difference of about 5% when using each of a SSW and graphite felt (control). There was no significant difference in the current value. The organic removal rate in the microbial fuel cells used graphite felt and SSWS was 82.4% and 88.3%, respectively. The COD removal in the MFC used the SSWS was higher than that of graphite felt. Ammonium nitrogen was showed similar trend in two case all. These results about current generation and organic matter reduction seem possible that SSWS was used to anode electrode. When SSWS is used, the initial investment for system construction is expected to be able to reduce by approximately 1/50.

Microbial Communities of the Microbial Fuel Cell Using Swine Wastewater in the Enrichment Step with the Lapse of Time

These studies were attempted to investigate the change of microbial community of anode of microbial fuel cell using swine wastewater in the enrichment step with the lapse of time. Microbial fuel cells enriched by a 1 : 1 mixture of anaerobic digestive juices of the sewage treatment plant and livestock wastewater. Enrichment culture step was divided into three stages to indentify the microorganisms. It was separated by each lag phase, exponential phase, and stationary phase. These steps were determined by the change of the current value. The current after enrichment was generated about 0.84 ± 0.06 mA. We were cut out the different 17 bands in the DGGE fingerprint gel to do sequencing. The bands which the concentration was increasing or newly appearing with the lapse of time were included for this study. In the lag and exponential phase, Clostridium, Rhodocyclaceae, Bacteriodetes, and Uncultured bacterium etc. were detected. There were in the stationary phase Geobacter sp., Rhodocyclaceae, Candidatus, Nitrospira, Flavobactriaceae and uncultured bacterium etc. Geobactor among microorganisms detected in this study is known as the Electrochemically active microorganisms. It may include electrochemically active microorganisms to be considered as electrical activity microorganisms.