Electricity generation coupled with wastewater treatment using a microbial fuel cell composed of a modified cathode with a ceramic membrane and cellulose acetate film.
A noncompartmented microbial fuel cell (NCMFC) composed of a Mn(IV)-carbon plate and a Fe(III)-carbon plate was used for electricity generation from organic wastewater without consumption of external energy. The Fe(III)-carbon plate, coated with a porous ceramic membrane and a semipermeable cellulose acetate film, was used as a cathode, which substituted for the catholyte and cathode. The Mn(IV)-carbon plate was used as an anode without a membrane or film coating. A solar cell connected to the NCMFC activated electricity generation and bacterial consumption of organic matter contained in the wastewater. More than 99 degrees of the organic matter was biochemically oxidized during wastewater flow through the four NCMFC units. A predominant bacterium isolated from the anode surface in both the conventional and the solar cell-linked NCMFC was found to be more than 99 degrees similar to a Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium and Burkeholderia sp., based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The isolate reacted electrochemically with the Mn(IV)-modified anode and produced electricity in the NCMFC. After 90 days of incubation, a bacterial species that was enriched on the Mn(IV)-modified anode surface in all of the NCMFC units was found to be very similar to the initially isolated predominant species by comparing 16S rDNA sequences.
Seo
Ha Na
HN
Department of Biological Engineering, Seokyeong University, Seoul 136-704, Korea.
Lee
Woo Jin
WJ
Hwang
Tae Sik
TS
Park
Doo Hyun
DH
D001419:Bacteria / Q000235:genetics; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D002244:Carbon; D002516:Ceramics; D017931:DNA Primers; D004560:Electricity; D004563:Electrochemistry / Q000379:methods; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D008345:Manganese; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D017931:DNA Primers; D008345:Manganese; D002244:Carbon; D010100:Oxygen