title: Single chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) with a cathodic microalgal biofilm: A preliminary assessment of the generation of bioelectricity and biodegradation of real dye textile wastewater.
abstract: An air exposed single-chamber microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) using microalgal biocathodes was designed. The reactors were tested for the simultaneous biodegradation of real dye textile wastewater (RTW) and the generation of bioelectricity. The results of digital image processing revealed a maximum coverage area on the biocathodes by microalgal cells of 42%. The atmospheric and diffused CO2could enable good algal growth and its immobilized operation on the cathode electrode. The biocathode-SCMFCs outperformed an open circuit voltage (OCV), which was 18%-43% higher than the control. Furthermore, the maximum volumetric power density achieved was 123.2 ± 27.5 mW m-3. The system was suitable for the treatment of RTW and the removal/decrease of COD, colour and heavy metals. High removal efficiencies were observed in the SCMFCs for Zn (98%) and COD (92-98%), but the removal efficiencies were considerably lower for Cr (54-80%). We observed that this single chamber MFC simplifies a double chamber system. The bioelectrochemical performance was relatively low, but the treatment capacity of the system seems encouraging in contrast to previous studies. A proof-of-concept experiment demonstrated that the microalgal biocathode could operate in air exposed conditions, seems to be a promising alternative to a Pt cathode and is an efficient and cost-effective approach to improve the performance of single chamber MFCs.
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación de Energías Alternativas y Ambiente, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Chimborazo, EC060155, Ecuador; Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary. Electronic address: logrono.w@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Washington
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Logroño
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación de Energías Alternativas y Ambiente, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Chimborazo, EC060155, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Mario
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pérez
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación de Energías Alternativas y Ambiente, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Chimborazo, EC060155, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Gladys
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Urquizo
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600, UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Abudukeremu
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kadier
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación de Energías Alternativas y Ambiente, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Chimborazo, EC060155, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Magdy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Echeverría
authors.affiliation: Centro de Investigación de Energías Alternativas y Ambiente, Escuela Superior Politécnica de Chimborazo, Chimborazo, EC060155, Ecuador; Instituto de Ciencia, Innovación, Tecnología y Saberes, Universidad Nacional de Chimborazo, Riobamba, Ecuador.
authors.forename: Celso
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Recalde
authors.affiliation: Department of Biotechnology, University of Szeged, H-6726, Szeged, Hungary; Institute of Biophysics, Biological Research Centre Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Szeged, Hungary.
authors.forename: Gábor
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Rákhely
mesh_terms: D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D018441:Biofilms / Q000254:growth & development*; D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry; D004560:Electricity; D055664:Electrochemical Techniques; D004566:Electrodes; D058086:Microalgae / Q000378:metabolism*; D013784:Textiles; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry*; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical / Q000032:analysis* / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D004396:Coloring Agents; D062065:Wastewater; D014874:Water Pollutants, Chemical
keywords: Biocathode; COD; Heavy metal; Microalgae; Microbial fuel cells (MFCs); Wastewater