Effect of electrolyte pH on the rate of the anodic and cathodic reactions in an air-cathode microbial fuel cell.
The measurement of electricity generation from an air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) with a mixed bacteria culture at different pH showed that this MFC could tolerate an initial (feed solution) pH as high as 10. The optimal initial pH was between 8 and 10 with higher current generation compared to lower or higher pH. The bacterial metabolism exhibited a buffer effect and changed the electrolyte pH. The impedance spectra of the anode and cathode of the MFC at the open-circuit potential (OCP) revealed that the anodic microbial process preferred a neutral pH and microbial activities decreased at higher or lower pH; while the cathodic reaction was improved with increasing pH.
He
Zhen
Z
Mork Family Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
Huang
Yuelong
Y
Manohar
Aswin K
AK
Mansfeld
Florian
F
D000388:Air; D001419:Bacteria / Q000378:metabolism*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D017097:Electric Impedance; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004573:Electrolytes; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007700:Kinetics
D004573:Electrolytes