[Electricity generation from corn steepwater using microbial fuel cell technology].
Corn steepwater containing 49,732.2 mg/L of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was used as fuel for a membrane electrode assembly microbial fuel cell (MEA-MFC), which could generate electricity and treat the wastewater at the same time. During a batch experiment of 94 days with a fixed 1,000 Omega external resistance, the maximum voltage output of 525.0 mV and power density of 169.6 mW/m2 were obtained after 17 days, corresponding to the current density, internal resistance and open voltage of 440.2 mA/m2, 350 Omega and 619.5 mV, respectively. However, data showed that the coulombic efficiency was only 1.6%, suggesting very limited COD was utilized for electricity generation. At the conclusion of the test, the removals of COD and ammonia-nitrogen were achieved 51.6% and 25.8%, respectively. This study demonstrates that corn steepwater can be used for power generation in MFC with simultaneous accomplishments of wastewater treatment, providing a novel approach for the safe disposal and recycle of corn steepwater.
Lu
Na
N
Key Laboratory of Water and Sediment Sciences, Ministry of Education, Department of Environmental Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China. luna@iee.pku.edu.cn
Zhou
Shun-Gui
SG
Zhang
Jin-Tao
JT
Ni
Jin-Ren
JR
D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology; D019149:Bioreactors; D003246:Conservation of Energy Resources; D004560:Electricity; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*; D003313:Zea mays / Q000737:chemistry*