title: Effect of static magnetic field on electricity production and wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cells.
abstract: The effect of a magnetic field (MF) on electricity production and wastewater treatment in two-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has been investigated. Electricity production capacity could be improved by the application of a low-intensity static MF. When a MF of 50 mT was applied to MFCs, the maximum voltage, total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency increased from 523 ± 2 to 553 ± 2 mV, ∼93 to ∼96 %, and ∼80 to >90 %, respectively, while the start-up time and coulombic efficiency decreased from 16 to 10 days and ∼50 to ∼43 %, respectively. The MF effects were immediate, reversible, and not long lasting, and negative effects on electricity generation and COD removal seemed to occur after the MF was removed. The start-up and voltage output were less affected by the MF direction. Nitrogen compounds in magnetic MFCs were nitrified more thoroughly; furthermore, a higher proportion of electrochemically inactive microorganisms were found in magnetic systems. TP was effectively removed by the co-effects of microbe absorption and chemical precipitation. Chemical precipitates were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope capable of energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to be a mixture of phosphate, carbonate, and hydroxyl compounds.
authors.affiliation: College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Qinqin
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Shaoqi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zhou
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D002254:Carbonates / Q000032:analysis; D004560:Electricity; D006878:Hydroxides / Q000032:analysis; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D008855:Microscopy, Electron, Scanning; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds / Q000378:metabolism; D010710:Phosphates / Q000032:analysis; D010758:Phosphorus / Q000032:analysis; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry / Q000382:microbiology*; D018508:Water Purification
chemical_list: D002254:Carbonates; D006878:Hydroxides; D017672:Nitrogen Compounds; D010710:Phosphates; D010758:Phosphorus; D062065:Wastewater; C031356:hydroxide ion