• Energy Research

AbstractSimultaneous electricity generation and combined carbon and nitrogen removal in wastewater using microbial fuel cells are an intriguing process. The generation of electricity from nitrogen-rich wastewater was examined using single chamber air cathode microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs). SCMFCs were fed with an artificial wastewater containing the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD): total nitrogen (N) ratio of 2.5:1.0, and operated under mesophilic batch mode. The power density increased with increasing wastewater concentration. Performance of SCMFCs with external resistances, 500 and 1,000Ω, based on maximum power density and current was compared. The SCMFCs with 500Ω gained higher maximum power density and current output by 12.5 and 23.3%, respectively, compared to 1,000Ω. The COD and ammonium removal in 500Ω condition was 81 and 98%, respectively. The findings suggested that MFC is a potential technology to treat carbon and nitrogen pollutants in wastewater, and recover electric energy at the same time.

AbstractSimultaneous electricity generation and combined carbon and nitrogen removal in wastewater using microbial fuel cells are an intriguing process. The generation of electricity from nitrogen-rich wastewater was examined using single chamber air cathode microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs). SCMFCs were fed with an artificial wastewater containing the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD): total nitrogen (N) ratio of 2.5:1.0, and operated under mesophilic batch mode. The power density increased with increasing wastewater concentration. Performance of SCMFCs with external resistances, 500 and 1,000Ω, based on maximum power density and current was compared. The SCMFCs with 500Ω gained higher maximum power density and current output by 12.5 and 23.3%, respectively, compared to 1,000Ω. The COD and ammonium removal in 500Ω condition was 81 and 98%, respectively. The findings suggested that MFC is a potential technology to treat carbon and nitrogen pollutants in wastewater, and recover electric energy at the same time.

AbstractThe influence of external resistances in the range of 10 to 1,000 Ω and carbohydrate-rich wastewater concentration on electricity generation in air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs) operated at pH 7.0 and 37°C was examined. Enrichment of microbial seed in SCMFCs was stable with maximum current output of 0.1 mA after one month inoculation. The maximum current density, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and coulombic efficiency (CE) of 1.0 A m-2, 85% and 20%, respectively, were achieved when Rext of 10 Ω was used (1,000 mg COD L-1). The power density increased with the increase of wastewater concentration and obtained maximum value of 39.2 mW m-2 (CE=20.4%) at 3,000 mg COD L-1. The results indicated that the wastewater can be used as a substrate to produce electricity and can be treated in SCMFCs. The current outputs and wastewater concentrations displayed a strongly linear correlation in the concentration range of 125 to 3,000 mg COD L-1 (r2=0.96). The current findings shows SCMFC not only simultaneously generate electricity and treat wastewater but also potentially work as a sensor device for measuring industrial wastewater concentration.

AbstractThe influence of external resistances in the range of 10 to 1,000 Ω and carbohydrate-rich wastewater concentration on electricity generation in air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs) operated at pH 7.0 and 37°C was examined. Enrichment of microbial seed in SCMFCs was stable with maximum current output of 0.1 mA after one month inoculation. The maximum current density, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and coulombic efficiency (CE) of 1.0 A m-2, 85% and 20%, respectively, were achieved when Rext of 10 Ω was used (1,000 mg COD L-1). The power density increased with the increase of wastewater concentration and obtained maximum value of 39.2 mW m-2 (CE=20.4%) at 3,000 mg COD L-1. The results indicated that the wastewater can be used as a substrate to produce electricity and can be treated in SCMFCs. The current outputs and wastewater concentrations displayed a strongly linear correlation in the concentration range of 125 to 3,000 mg COD L-1 (r2=0.96). The current findings shows SCMFC not only simultaneously generate electricity and treat wastewater but also potentially work as a sensor device for measuring industrial wastewater concentration.

AbstractA new and environmental friendly method for the rapid determination of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) as a measure of organic pollution was developed. Ozone was used as an oxidizing agent in the current method. Experiment was setup in 500mL glass bottle containing 390mL distilled water and 10mL wastewater sample at 31°C. The extent of dissolved ozone reacted with the wastewater sample was monitored through an ozone sensor. Reaction time of 60seconds achieved good linear correlation between the extent of ozone degradation and the wastewater concentrations. The results showed that the rate and extent of ozone degradation are linearly proportional to the initial COD concentrations in range of 0-80mg/L for the glucose- containing distilled water and canteen wastewater.

AbstractA new and environmental friendly method for the rapid determination of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) as a measure of organic pollution was developed. Ozone was used as an oxidizing agent in the current method. Experiment was setup in 500mL glass bottle containing 390mL distilled water and 10mL wastewater sample at 31°C. The extent of dissolved ozone reacted with the wastewater sample was monitored through an ozone sensor. Reaction time of 60seconds achieved good linear correlation between the extent of ozone degradation and the wastewater concentrations. The results showed that the rate and extent of ozone degradation are linearly proportional to the initial COD concentrations in range of 0-80mg/L for the glucose- containing distilled water and canteen wastewater.

AbstractThe nitrogen removal in wastewater using single chamber microbial fuel cells is an interesting process. The nitrogen removal from nitrogen wastewater was examined using single chamber air cathode microbial fuel cells (SC-MFCs). SC-MFCs were fed with synthetic wastewater containing the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD) 1,000mg L-1 and nitrogen (N) 125, 250, 625, and 875 mg-N L-1, respectively and operated under mesophilic batch mode. Performance of SC-MFCs with external resistances 1,000Ω was based on maximum power density, COD and nitrogen removal. The SC-MFCs with ammonia-N concentration 625 mg-N L-1 gained higher maximum power density by 160 mW m-2.The ammonium removal was 58%. The results suggested that SC-MFCs are potential technology for simultaneous nitrogen and COD removal; and electricity generation.