title: Enhancement of azo dye decolourization in a MFC-MEC coupled system.
abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have shown the potential for azo dye decolourization. In this study, a MFC-MEC (microbial electrolysis cell) coupled system was established in order to enhance azo dye decolourization, and the influence of several key factors on reactor performance was evaluated. Moreover, a theoretical analysis was conducted to find the essential preconditions for successfully develop this MFC-MEC coupled system. The results indicate that the decolourization rate in the coupled system had a 36.52-75.28% improvement compared to the single MFC. Anodic acetate concentration of both the MFC and the MEC showed a positive effect on azo dye decolourization, while the cathodic pH of both MEC and MFC in the range of 7.0-10.3 had an insignificant impact on reactor performance in the coupled system. The theoretical analysis reveals that the MFC should have higher short-circuit electricity generation than the MEC before connecting together for a successful coupled system.
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Hou-Yun
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu Province, China.
authors.forename: Jin-You
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Shen
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: yangmu@ustc.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Yang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Mu
authors.affiliation: CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
authors.forename: Han-Qing
authors.initials: HQ
authors.lastname: Yu
mesh_terms: D000085:Acetates / Q000032:analysis; D001391:Azo Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D003116:Color; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis*; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004572:Electrolysis; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration
chemical_list: D000085:Acetates; D001391:Azo Compounds; D004396:Coloring Agents; C100258:methyl orange
keywords: Azo dye; Decolourization; Microbial electrolysis cell; Microbial fuel cell