Medium-chain-length poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates-carbon nanotubes composite anode enhances the performance of microbial fuel cell.
Insufficient power generation from a microbial fuel cell (MFC) hampers its progress towards utility-scale development. Electrode modification with biopolymeric materials could potentially address this issue. In this study, medium-chain-length poly-3-hydroxyalkanoates (PHA)/carbon nanotubes (C) composite (CPHA) was successfully applied to modify the surface of carbon cloth (CC) anode in MFC. Characterization of the functional groups on the anodic surface and its morphology was carried out. The CC-CPHA composite anode recorded maximum power density of 254 mW/m2, which was 15-53% higher than the MFC operated with CC-C (214 mW/m2) and pristine CC (119 mW/m2) as the anode in a double-chambered MFC operated with Escherichia coli as the biocatalyst. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry showed that power enhancement was attributed to better electron transfer capability by the bacteria for the MFC setup with CC-CPHA anode.
Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.|Faculty of Science, Department of Biochemistry, Bauchi State University, P.M.B. 65, Gadau, Bauchi State, Nigeria.
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Hindatu
Faculty of Science, Institute of Biological Sciences, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. suffian_annuar@um.edu.my.
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Annuar
Faculty of Science, Department of Physics, Center for Ionics University of Malaya, University of Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
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Subramaniam
Faculty of Science, Department of Microbiology and Biotechnology, Federal University Dutse, 7156, Dutse, Jigawa State, Nigeria.
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Gumel
D000473:Alkanes; D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources; D004566:Electrodes; D004579:Electron Transport; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon; D013784:Textiles
D000473:Alkanes; D037742:Nanotubes, Carbon
Anode modification; Carbon nanotube; Escherichia coli; Microbial fuel cell; Polyhydroxyalkanoates