title: Enhanced performance of an air-cathode microbial fuel cell with oxygen supply from an externally connected algal bioreactor.
abstract: An algae bioreactor (ABR) was externally connected to air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) to increase power generation by supplying a high amount of oxygen to cathode electrode. The MFC with oxygen fed from ABR produced maximum cell voltage and cathode potential at a fixed loading of 459 mV and 10 mV, respectively. During polarization analysis, the MFC displayed a maximum power density of 0.63 W/m(2) (at 2.06 A/m(2)) using 39.2% O2 from ABR, which was approximately 30% higher compared with use of atmospheric air (0.44 W/m(2), 20.8% O2,). The cyclic voltammogram analysis exhibited a higher reduction current of -137 mA with 46.5% O2 compared to atmospheric air (-115 mA). Oxygen supply by algae bioreactor to air-cathode MFC could also maintain better MFC performance in long term operation by minimizing cathode potential drop over time.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seocheon-dong, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, South Korea.
authors.forename: Ramesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kakarla
authors.affiliation: School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Pusan National University (PNU), Busan 609-735, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jung Rae
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Engineering, Hanyang University, Seoul 133-791, South Korea.
authors.forename: Byong-Hun
authors.initials: BH
authors.lastname: Jeon
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seocheon-dong, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do 446-701, South Korea. Electronic address: bkmin@khu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Booki
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Min
mesh_terms: D000388:Air; D001639:Bicarbonates / Q000032:analysis; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D019149:Bioreactors; D004560:Electricity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D056890:Eukaryota / Q000378:metabolism*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D001639:Bicarbonates; D010100:Oxygen
keywords: Air-cathode microbial fuel cell; Algae bioreactor; Cathode potential; Cell voltage; Oxygen supply