title: Continuous microbial fuel cells convert carbohydrates to electricity.
abstract: Microbial fuel cells which are operated in continuous mode are more suitable for practical applications than fed batch ones. Three influent types containing carbohydrates were tested, i.e. a glucose medium, a plant extract and artificial wastewater. The anode reactor compartment yielding the best results was a packed bed reactor containing graphite granules. While in non-mediated batch systems power outputs up to 479 W m(-3) of anode compartment could be attained; in continuous mode the power outputs were limited to 49W m(-3). Cyclic voltammetry was performed to determine the potential of the in-situ synthesized bacterial redox mediators. Addition of mediators with a potential similar to the bacterial potential did not significantly alter the MFC power output, indicating a limited influence of soluble mediators for continuous microbial fuel cells. Maximum coulombic and energy conversion efficiencies were, for the continuous microbial fuel cell operating on plant extract at a loading rate of 1 kg COD m(-3) of anode compartment per day, 50.3% and 26.0% respectively.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory for Microbial Ecology and Technology, Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Rabaey
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ossieur
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Verhaege
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Verstraete
mesh_terms: D031002:Acer / Q000737:chemistry; D000085:Acetates / Q000378:metabolism; D001421:Bacteria, Anaerobic / Q000378:metabolism*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D005947:Glucose / Q000378:metabolism*; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000031:analogs & derivatives; D010078:Oxazines; D010619:Phenazines; D010936:Plant Extracts / Q000378:metabolism; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism*; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D007202:Indicators and Reagents; D010078:Oxazines; D010619:Phenazines; D010936:Plant Extracts; C035184:new methylene blue; D013395:Sucrose; C014180:resorufin; D007203:Indigo Carmine; D005947:Glucose; D008751:Methylene Blue; C009195:safranine T