title: A flat microbial fuel cell for decentralized wastewater valorization: process performance and optimization potential.
abstract: A very compact flat microbial fuel cell (MFC), with 64 cm2 each for the anode surface and the cathode surface and 1 cm3 each for the anode and cathode chambers, was tested for wastewater treatment with simultaneous electricity production with the ultimate goal of implementing an autonomous service in decentralized wastewater treatment systems. The MFC was operated with municipal wastewater in sequencing batch reactor mode with re-circulation. Current densities up to 407 W/m3 and a carbon removal of 83% were obtained. Interruption in the operation slightly decreased power density, while the re-circulation ratio did not influence power generation. The anode biofilm presented high conductivity, activity and diversity. The denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis band-pattern of the DNA showed the presence of several ribotypes with different species of Shewanellaceae and Geobacteraceae families.
authors.affiliation: IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal. luciana.peixoto@deb.uminho.pt
authors.forename: Luciana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Peixoto
authors.affiliation: IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Alexandrina L
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
authors.affiliation: IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Gilberto
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Ana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nicolau
authors.affiliation: IBB-Institute for Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: António G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Brito
authors.affiliation: Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: M Manuela
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Centre of Chemistry, University of Minho, Braga, Portugal.
authors.forename: Pier
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Parpot
authors.affiliation: Institute of Sanitary Engineering and Waste Management, University of Hannover, Hannover, Germany.
authors.forename: Regina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nogueira
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D018441:Biofilms; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry; D058645:Denaturing Gradient Gel Electrophoresis; D004553:Electric Conductivity; D007501:Iron / Q000737:chemistry; D050296:Microbial Viability; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D002244:Carbon; D007501:Iron; D062065:Wastewater