title: Fluidized capacitive bioanode as a novel reactor concept for the microbial fuel cell.
abstract: The use of granular electrodes in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) is attractive because granules provide a cost-effective way to create a high electrode surface area, which is essential to achieve high current and power densities. Here, we show a novel reactor design based on capacitive granules: the fluidized capacitive bioanode. Activated carbon (AC) granules are colonized by electrochemically active microorganisms, which extract electrons from acetate and store the electrons in the granule. Electricity is harvested from the AC granules in an external discharge cell. We show a proof-of-principle of the fluidized capacitive system with a total anode volume of 2 L. After a start-up period of 100 days, the current increased from 0.56 A/m(2) with 100 g AC granules, to 0.99 A/m(2) with 150 g AC granules, to 1.3 A/m(2) with 200 g AC granules. Contact between moving AC granules and current collector was confirmed in a control experiment without biofilm. Contribution of an electro-active biofilm to the current density with recirculation of AC granules was limited. SEM images confirmed that a biofilm was present on the AC granules after operation in the fluidized capacitive system. Although current densities reported here need further improvement, the high surface area of the AC granules in combination with external discharge offers new and promising opportunities for scaling up MFCs.
authors.affiliation: Sub-Department of Environmental Technology, Wageningen University , Bornse Weilanden 9, P.O. Box 8129, 6708WG Wageningen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Deeke
authors.forename: Tom H J A
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Sleutels
authors.forename: Tim F W
authors.initials: TF
authors.lastname: Donkers
authors.forename: Hubertus V M
authors.initials: HV
authors.lastname: Hamelers
authors.forename: Cees J N
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Buisman
authors.forename: Annemiek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ter Heijne
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018441:Biofilms; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004583:Electrons