title: Characterization of wastewater treatment by two microbial fuel cells in continuous flow operation.
abstract: A two serially connected single-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was applied to the treatment of diluted molasses wastewater in a continuous operation mode. In addition, the effect of series and parallel connection between the anodes and the cathode on power generation was investigated experimentally. The two serially connected MFC process achieved 79.8% of chemical oxygen demand removal and 11.6% of Coulombic efficiency when the hydraulic retention time of the whole process was 26 h. The power densities were 0.54, 0.34 and 0.40 W m(-3) when electrodes were in individual connection, serial connection and parallel connection modes, respectively. A high open circuit voltage was obtained in the serial connection. Power density decreased at low organic loading rates (OLR) due to the shortage of organic matter. Power generation efficiency tended to decrease as a result of enhancement of methane fermentation at high OLRs. Therefore, high power density and efficiency can be achieved by using a suitable OLR range.
authors.affiliation: a Division of Environmental Engineering Science , Gunma University , 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu , Gunma 376-8515 , Japan.
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kubota
authors.affiliation: a Division of Environmental Engineering Science , Gunma University , 1-5-1 Tenjin-cho, Kiryu , Gunma 376-8515 , Japan.
authors.forename: Tomohide
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Watanabe
authors.affiliation: b Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering , Nagaoka University of Technology , 1603-1 Kamitomioka, Ngaoka , Niigata 940-2188 , Japan.
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yamaguchi
authors.affiliation: c Center for Regional Environmental Research , National Institute for Environmental Studies , 16-2 Onogawa, Tsukuba , Ibaraki 305-8506 , Japan.
authors.forename: Kazuaki
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Syutsubo
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D019149:Bioreactors; D005285:Fermentation; D008697:Methane / Q000378:metabolism*; D008965:Molasses / Q000032:analysis; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D008697:Methane; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: PCR-DGGE; air-cathode; microbial fuel cell; organic loading rate; wastewater treatment