title: Enhanced Coulombic efficiency in glucose-fed microbial fuel cells by reducing metabolite electron losses using dual-anode electrodes.
abstract: Glucose-fed microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have displayed low Coulombic efficiency (CE); one reason for a low CE is metabolite generation, causing significant electron loss within MFC systems. In the present study, notable electron loss (15.83%) is observed in glucose-fed MFCs due to residual propionate, a glucose metabolite. In order to enhance the low CE caused by metabolite generation, a dual-anode MFC (DAMFC) is constructed, which are separately enriched by dissimilar substrates (glucose and propionate, respectively) to effectively utilize both glucose and propionate in one-anode chamber. In the DAMFC, propionate ceases to exist as a source of electron loss, and thus the CE increased from 33 ± 6 to 59 ± 4%.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju 500-712, South Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung-Yeol
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyu-Jung
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Mi-Jin
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Folusho F
authors.initials: FF
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.forename: Am
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jang
authors.forename: Chang-Won
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: In S
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004566:Electrodes; D004583:Electrons; D005947:Glucose; D011422:Propionates / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D011422:Propionates; D005947:Glucose