title: Increased Power in Sediment Microbial Fuel Cell: Facilitated Mass Transfer via a Water-Layer Anode Embedded in Sediment.
abstract: We report a methodology for enhancing the mass transfer at the anode electrode of sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs), by employing a fabric baffle to create a separate water-layer for installing the anode electrode in sediment. The maximum power in an SMFC with the anode installed in the separate water-layer (SMFC-wFB) was improved by factor of 6.6 compared to an SMFC having the anode embedded in the sediment (SMFC-woFB). The maximum current density in the SMFC-wFB was also 3.9 times higher (220.46 mA/m2) than for the SMFC-woFB. We found that the increased performance in the SMFC-wFB was due to the improved mass transfer rate of organic matter obtained by employing the water-layer during anode installation in the sediment layer. Acetate injection tests revealed that the SMFC-wFB could be applied to natural water bodies in which there is frequent organic contamination, based on the acetate flux from the cathode to the anode.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yoo Seok
authors.initials: YS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Junyeong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: An
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Bongkyu
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: HyunJun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Jisu
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST), 261 Cheomdan-gwagiro, Buk-gu, Gwangju, 500-712, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: In Seop
authors.initials: IS
authors.lastname: Chang
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004058:Diffusion; D004560:Electricity; D004566:Electrodes; D004867:Equipment Design; D019015:Geologic Sediments; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D014867:Water