title: Stackable and submergible microbial fuel cell modules for wastewater treatment.
abstract: The stackable and submergible microbial fuel cell (SS-MFC) system was fabricated consisting of three MFC modules (#1, #2 and #3) that were immersed in an anaerobic tank as a 30 L anode compartment. Each module consisted of the anion exchange membrane-membrane electrode assembly (A-MEA) and cation exchange membrane-MEA (C-MEA). Two MEAs shared a cathode compartment in the module and the three modules shared a anode compartment The SS-MFC system was operated with two phase. After batch feeding (phase I), the system was operated under continuous mode (phase II) with different organic concentrations (from 50 to 1000 mg/L) and different hydraulic retention times (HRT; from 3.4 to 7.2 h). The SS-MFC system successfully produced a stable voltage. A-MEA generated a lower power density than the C-MEA because of the former's high activation and resistance loss. C-MEA showed a higher average maximum power density (3.16 W/m(3)) than A-MEA (2.82 W/m(3)) at 70 mL/min (HRT of 7.2 h). The current density increased as the organic concentration was increased from 70 to 1000 mg/L in a manner consistent with Monod kinetics. When the HRT was increased from 3.4 to 7.2 h, the power densities of the C-MEAs increased from 34.3-40.9 to 40.7-45.7 mW/m(2), but those of the A-MEAs decreased from 25.3-48.0 to 27.7-40.9 mW/m(2). Although power generation was affected by HRT, organic concentrations, and separator types, the proposed SS-MFC modules can be applied to existing wastewater treatment plants.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Minsoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Hanhwa E&C, Daejeon, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaehwan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Cha
authors.affiliation: Department of Energy and Environmental Engineering, Silla University, Busan, South Korea.
authors.forename: Jaecheul
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, South Korea. cwkim@pusan.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Changwon
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D004566:Electrodes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater; D018508:Water Purification / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D062065:Wastewater
keywords: Membrane; Membrane-electrode assembly; Microbial fuel cell; Stackable; Submergible; Wastewater