| Peer-Reviewed

Effect of Salt Enrichment on Electricity Generation and Waste Water Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Using Oxygen as Electron Acceptors

Received: 29 August 2016    Accepted: 21 October 2016    Published: 14 November 2016
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

One way to reduce treatment cost while producing useful products from wastewater is the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. It provides a means of treating wastewater with simultaneous production of energy. In the present study, the H-type MFC was used to study the effect of salt enrichment on electricity generation using carbon and copper electrodes with oxygen as electron acceptor. Wastewater from septic tank was used as substrate, one set of which was enriched with 1M NaCl. The voltage and current generated were monitored using a multimeter which was connected to the anode and cathode by a copper wire. Oxygen was used as electron acceptor at the cathode chamber. Voltage and current readings were taken per hour per day for 15days. Wastewater treatability was determined by comparing the biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solid (TDS) of the wastewaters before and after treatment. The results show that the fuel cells generated voltages and currents that varied according to the electrode used. Salt enrichment enhanced the efficiency of both current and voltage generation in the MFCs. Carbon electrode MFC performed better than copper electrode MFC. Both the enriched and the un-enriched MFCs had very high percentage removal of BOD, DO, COD and TDS in both carbon and copper electrode MFCs. Do and BOD percentage removals were at least 60% in all the MFCs while the CODs removals were at least 50% in all the treatments. The least percentage wastewater parameter removal was observed in TDS of salt-enriched copper electrode MFC. The study proved that wastewater can be conveniently treated using MFC. The best option would be to use salt-enrichment in a carbon-electrode microbial fuel cell.

Published in Advances in Applied Sciences (Volume 1, Issue 3)
DOI 10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14
Page(s) 69-77
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

MFC, Waste Water Treatment, Electricity Generation, Salt Enrichment

References
[1] HaoYu, E., Cheng, S., Scott, K., and Logan, B. (2007). Microbial fuel cell performance with non-Pt cathode catalysts. Journal of Power Sources 171, 275-281.
[2] Salgado, C. A. (2009). Microbial fuel cells powered by Geobacter sulfurreducens. Basic Biotechnol. vol 5, 5: 1.
[3] Lovley, D. R. (2006). Bug juice: harvesting electricity with microorganisms. Nat Rev Micro 4, 497-508.
[4] Logan, B. (2010). Scaling up microbial fuel cells and other bioelectrochemical systems. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 85, 1665-1671.
[5] Pant D, V. B. G., Diels L, Vanbroekhoven K. (2010). A review of the substrates used in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for sustainable energy production. Bioresour. Technol. 101 (6), 1533-1543.
[6] Logan, B. E. and Regan, J. M. (2006). Electricity-producing bacterial communities in microbial fuel cells. Trends in Microbiology, 14 (12): 512-518.
[7] Rabaey, K. and Verstraete, W. (2005) Microbial fuel cells: novel biotechnology for energy generation. Trends in Biotechnology, 23 (6): 291-298.
[8] Logan, B. E, Hamelers, B., Rozendal, R., Schroder, U., Keller, J., Freguia, S., Aelterman P., Verstrate, W., and Rabaey, K. (2006). Microbial fuel cells: Methodology and technology. Environmental Science and Technology, 40 (17): 5181-5192.
[9] Logan B. E. (2009). Exoelectrogenic bacteria that power microbial fuel cells. Nature Reviews, 7: 375-381.
[10] Huang, L. P., Zeng, R. J. and Angelidaki, I. (2008) Electricity production from xylose using a mediator-less microbial fuel cell. Bioresource Technology, 99 (10): 4178-4184.
[11] Ren, Z., Ward, T. E. and Regan, J. M. (2007) Electricity production from cellulose in a microbial fuel cell using a defined binary culture. Environmental Science and Technology, 41 (13): 4781-4786.
[12] Rezai, F., Xing, D., Wagner, R., Regan, J. M., Richard, T. L. and Logan, B. E. (2009). Simultaneous cellulose degradation and electricity production by Enterobacter cloacae in a microbial fuel cell. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 75 (11): 3673-3678.
[13] Nevin, K. P., Richter, H., Covalla, S. F., Johnson, J. P., Woodard, T. L., Orlo, A. L., Jia, H., Zhang, M. and Lovley, D. R. (2008). Power output and columbic efficiencies from biofilms of Geobacter sulfurreducens comparable to mixed community microbial fuel cells. Environmental Microbiology, 10 (10): 2505-2514.
[14] Kiely, P. D., Regan, J. M. and Logan, B. E. (2011). The electric picnic: synergistic requirements for exoelectrogenic microbial communities. Current Opinion in Biotechnology, 22: 378-385.
[15] Kouzuma, A., Kasai, T., Nakagawa, G., Yamamuro, A., Abe, T. and Watanabe, K. (2013). Comparative metagenomics of anode-associated microbiomes developed in rice paddy field microbial fuel cells. PLoS ONE, 8 (11): e77443, 11.
[16] Beecroft, N. J., Zhao, F., Varcoe, J., Slade, R. C. T., Thumser, A. E. and Avignone-Rossa, C. (2012). Dynamic changes in the microbial community composition in microbial fuel cells fed with sucrose. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology, 93 (1): 423-437.
[17] Chae, K. J., Choi, M. ., Lee, L. W., Kim, K. Y. and Kim, I. S. (2009). Effect of different substrates on the performance, bacterial diversity, and bacterial viability in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource Technology, 100 (14): 3518-3525.
[18] Lee, H. S., Parameswaran, P., Kato-Marcus, A., Toress, C. and Rittmann, B. E. (2008). Evaluation of energy conversion efficiencies in microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Water Research, 42 (6-7): 1501-1510.
[19] Logan, B. E. (2007) Microbial fuel cell. 1st ed, John Wiley & Sons, Publication.
[20] Schroder, U., Nieen, J. and Scholz, F. (2003) A Generation of microbial fuel cells with current outputs boosted by more than one order of magnitude. Angewandte. Chemie, 42, 2880–2883.
[21] Kim, H. J., Park, H. S., Hyun, M. S., Chang, I. S., Kim, M. and Kim, B. H. (2002) A mediator-less microbial fuel cell using a metal reducing bacterium, Shewanella putrefaciens. Enzyme and Microbial Technology, 30 (2), 145-152.
[22] Biffinger, J. C., Byrd, J. N., Dudley, B. L. and Ringeisen, B. R. (2008) Oxygen exposure promotes fuel diversity for Shewanella oneidensis microbial fuel cells. Biosensors and Bioelectronics, 23, 820–826.
[23] Bond, D. R. and Lovley, D. R. (2003) Electricity production by Geobacter sulfurreducens attached to electrodes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 69 (3), 1548–1555.
[24] Chaudhuri, S. K. and Lovley, D. R. (2003) Electricity generation by direct oxidation of glucose in mediatorless microbial fuel cells. Nature Biotechnology, 21, 1229–1232.
[25] Liu, H., Cheng, S. and Logan, B. E. (2005) Production of electricity from acetate or butyrate using a single-chamber microbial fuel cell. Environmental Science Technology, 39, 658–662.
[26] Ahn, Y. and Logan, B. E. (2010) Effectiveness of domestic wastewater treatment using microbial fuel cells at ambient and mesophilic temperatures. Bioresource Technology, 101, 469–475.
[27] Jiang, J., Zhao, Q., Zhang, J., Zhang. G. and Lee. D. J. (2009) Electricity generation from bio-treatment of sewage sludge with microbial fuel cell. Bioresource Technology, 100, 5808-5812.
[28] Bookie, M., Jung Rae, Sanguine, K., John, O., Regan, M., Bruce, E. and Logan, B. E. (2005). Electricity Generation from Swine Wastewater Using Microbial Fuel Cells. Journal of Water Research, 39 (20), 4961-4968.
[29] Wen, Q., Wua, Y., Cao, D., Zhao, L. and Sun, Q. (2009) Electricity generation and modeling of microbial fuel cell from continuous beer brewery wastewater. Bioresource Technology, 100, 4171-4175.
[30] Patil, S. A., Surakasi, V. P., Koul, S., Ijmulwar, S., Vivek, A., Shouche, Y. S. and Kapadnis, B. P. (2009) Electricity generation using chocolate industry wastewater and its treatment in activated sludge based microbial fuel cell and analysis of developed microbial community in the anode chamber. Bioresource Technology, 100 (21), 5132–5139.
[31] Rismani-Yazdi, H., Ann D, Christy, Burk A. D., Morrison, M., Zhongtang, Y. and Tuovinen, O. H. (2007) Electricity generation from cellulose by rumen microorganisms in microbial fuel cells. Biotechnology Bioengineering. 97, 1398-407.
[32] Rabaey, K., Boon, N., Hofte, M. and Verstraete, W. (2005) Microbial phenazine production enhances electron transfer in biofuel cells. Environmental Science and Technology, 39, 3401–3408.
[33] Zhang, Y. (2012). Energy recovery from waste streams with microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based treatment. PhD Thesis, Technical University of Denmark.
[34] Liu, Z., Liu, J., Zhang, S. and Su, Z. (2009). Study of operational performance and electrical response on mediator-rich substrates. Biochem. Eng. J., 45: 185-191.
[35] Electric Power Research Institute, (2002). Water and sustainability. Research plan, vol. 1. Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto, CA.
[36] Annemiek, H. (2010). Improving the cathode of a microbial fuel cell for efficient electric production. PhD Thesis. Wageningen University, Netherlands.
[37] Rozendal, R. A., Hamelers, H. V. M., Rabaey, K., Keller, J. and Buisman, C. J. N. (2008). Towards practical implementation of bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment. Trends Biotechnol. 26: 450-459.
[38] Gorby, Y. A. and Beveridge, T. J. (2005). Composition, reactivity and regulation of extracellular metal-reducing structures (nanowires) produced by dissimilatory metal-reducing bacteria. Warrenton, VA.
[39] Mostafa, R., Arash, A., Soheil, D., Alireza, Z. and Sang-Eun, O. (2015). Microbial fuel cell as new technology for bioelectricity generation: A review, Alexandria Engineering Journal, 54, 745–756.
[40] Satish, V. K. and Hitesh, J. G. (2016). Studies in energy generation from cow dung in microbial fuel cell. International Journal of Pure and Applied Research in Engineering and Technology, 4 (8): 343-351.
[41] Park, D. H. and Zeikus, J. G. (2000). Electricity generation in microbial fuel cells using neutral red as an electronophore. Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 66 (4): 1292-1297.
[42] Zhang, Y. (2012). Energy recovery from waste streams with microbial fuel cell (MFC)-based treatment. PhD Thesis, Technical University of Denmark.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Akujob Campbell Onyeka, Odu Ngozi Nma, Okorondu Sylvester Ifunanya. (2016). Effect of Salt Enrichment on Electricity Generation and Waste Water Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Using Oxygen as Electron Acceptors. Advances in Applied Sciences, 1(3), 69-77. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    Akujob Campbell Onyeka; Odu Ngozi Nma; Okorondu Sylvester Ifunanya. Effect of Salt Enrichment on Electricity Generation and Waste Water Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Using Oxygen as Electron Acceptors. Adv. Appl. Sci. 2016, 1(3), 69-77. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    Akujob Campbell Onyeka, Odu Ngozi Nma, Okorondu Sylvester Ifunanya. Effect of Salt Enrichment on Electricity Generation and Waste Water Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Using Oxygen as Electron Acceptors. Adv Appl Sci. 2016;1(3):69-77. doi: 10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14,
      author = {Akujob Campbell Onyeka and Odu Ngozi Nma and Okorondu Sylvester Ifunanya},
      title = {Effect of Salt Enrichment on Electricity Generation and Waste Water Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Using Oxygen as Electron Acceptors},
      journal = {Advances in Applied Sciences},
      volume = {1},
      number = {3},
      pages = {69-77},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aas.20160103.14},
      abstract = {One way to reduce treatment cost while producing useful products from wastewater is the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. It provides a means of treating wastewater with simultaneous production of energy. In the present study, the H-type MFC was used to study the effect of salt enrichment on electricity generation using carbon and copper electrodes with oxygen as electron acceptor. Wastewater from septic tank was used as substrate, one set of which was enriched with 1M NaCl. The voltage and current generated were monitored using a multimeter which was connected to the anode and cathode by a copper wire. Oxygen was used as electron acceptor at the cathode chamber. Voltage and current readings were taken per hour per day for 15days. Wastewater treatability was determined by comparing the biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solid (TDS) of the wastewaters before and after treatment. The results show that the fuel cells generated voltages and currents that varied according to the electrode used. Salt enrichment enhanced the efficiency of both current and voltage generation in the MFCs. Carbon electrode MFC performed better than copper electrode MFC. Both the enriched and the un-enriched MFCs had very high percentage removal of BOD, DO, COD and TDS in both carbon and copper electrode MFCs. Do and BOD percentage removals were at least 60% in all the MFCs while the CODs removals were at least 50% in all the treatments. The least percentage wastewater parameter removal was observed in TDS of salt-enriched copper electrode MFC. The study proved that wastewater can be conveniently treated using MFC. The best option would be to use salt-enrichment in a carbon-electrode microbial fuel cell.},
     year = {2016}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Effect of Salt Enrichment on Electricity Generation and Waste Water Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Using Oxygen as Electron Acceptors
    AU  - Akujob Campbell Onyeka
    AU  - Odu Ngozi Nma
    AU  - Okorondu Sylvester Ifunanya
    Y1  - 2016/11/14
    PY  - 2016
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14
    T2  - Advances in Applied Sciences
    JF  - Advances in Applied Sciences
    JO  - Advances in Applied Sciences
    SP  - 69
    EP  - 77
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2575-1514
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aas.20160103.14
    AB  - One way to reduce treatment cost while producing useful products from wastewater is the microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. It provides a means of treating wastewater with simultaneous production of energy. In the present study, the H-type MFC was used to study the effect of salt enrichment on electricity generation using carbon and copper electrodes with oxygen as electron acceptor. Wastewater from septic tank was used as substrate, one set of which was enriched with 1M NaCl. The voltage and current generated were monitored using a multimeter which was connected to the anode and cathode by a copper wire. Oxygen was used as electron acceptor at the cathode chamber. Voltage and current readings were taken per hour per day for 15days. Wastewater treatability was determined by comparing the biological oxygen demand (BOD), dissolved oxygen (DO), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total dissolved solid (TDS) of the wastewaters before and after treatment. The results show that the fuel cells generated voltages and currents that varied according to the electrode used. Salt enrichment enhanced the efficiency of both current and voltage generation in the MFCs. Carbon electrode MFC performed better than copper electrode MFC. Both the enriched and the un-enriched MFCs had very high percentage removal of BOD, DO, COD and TDS in both carbon and copper electrode MFCs. Do and BOD percentage removals were at least 60% in all the MFCs while the CODs removals were at least 50% in all the treatments. The least percentage wastewater parameter removal was observed in TDS of salt-enriched copper electrode MFC. The study proved that wastewater can be conveniently treated using MFC. The best option would be to use salt-enrichment in a carbon-electrode microbial fuel cell.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 3
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Microbiology Department, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Microbiology Department, University of Port Harcourt, Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria

  • Microbiology Department, Federal University of Technology, Owerri, Nigeria

  • Sections