title: Effect of organic loading rates and proton exchange membrane surface area on the performance of an up-flow cylindrical microbial fuel cell.
abstract: The effect of organic loading rates (OLRs) and proton exchange membrane (PEM) surface area on the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) was evaluated. Three MFCs (MFC-1, MFC-2 and MFC-3) having PEM surface area of 10 cm2, 20 cm2 and 40 cm2, respectively, were used in the study. The MFCs were operated at influent chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 500 mg L(-1) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 20 h, 17 h, 13 h and 6 h in experimental Run-1 to Run-4. MFC-3, with highest PEM surface area showed highest power generation throughout the study. The optimum performancewas obtained at HRT of 13 h. In Run-5 and Run-6, the influent COD was increased to 1000 mg L(-1) and 1500 mg L(-1), respectively, maintaining the HRT at 13 h. Maximum volumetric powers of 4.26 W m(-3), 9.41 W m(-3) and 17.24 W m(-3) were obtained in MFC-1, MFC-2 and MFC-3, respectively, in Run-5 under the OLR of 1.84 kg COD m(-3) d(-1). These power values are among the higher values reported in literature; MFCs with higher PEM surface area showed better electricity generation, which clearly demonstrates that proton mass transfer is the main constraint in the MFCs which limits the power output. Combined effect of influent COD and HRT was found on electricity generation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Civil Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur-721 302, India. parth_jana@yahoo.co.in
authors.forename: Partha S
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Jana
authors.forename: Manaswini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Behera
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Ghangrekar
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004736:Energy-Generating Resources; D017895:Manganese Compounds; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides
chemical_list: D017895:Manganese Compounds; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D010087:Oxides; C048856:permanganic acid