Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells
This research sought to enhance the efficiency and biocompatibility of anodes in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), with an aim toward large-scale, real-world applications. The study focused on the effects of acid-heat treatment and chemical modification of three-...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2023-11-01
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| Series: | Micromachines |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/12/2142 |
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| author | Abdelghani Ghanam Sebastien Cecillon Andrei Sabac Hasna Mohammadi Aziz Amine François Buret Naoufel Haddour |
| author_facet | Abdelghani Ghanam Sebastien Cecillon Andrei Sabac Hasna Mohammadi Aziz Amine François Buret Naoufel Haddour |
| author_sort | Abdelghani Ghanam |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This research sought to enhance the efficiency and biocompatibility of anodes in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), with an aim toward large-scale, real-world applications. The study focused on the effects of acid-heat treatment and chemical modification of three-dimensional porous pristine carbon felt (CF) on power generation. Different treatments were applied to the pristine CF, including coating with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) dispersed using dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant and biopolymer chitosan (CS). These processes were expected to improve the hydrophilicity, reduce the internal resistance, and increase the electrochemically active surface area of CF anodes. A high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) analysis confirmed successful CNF coating. An electrochemical analysis showed improved conductivity and charge transfer toward [Fe(CN)6]<sup>3−/4−</sup> redox probe with treated anodes. When used in an air cathode single-chamber MFC system, the untreated CF facilitated quicker electroactive biofilm growth and reached a maximum power output density of 3.4 W m<sup>−2</sup>, with an open-circuit potential of 550 mV. Despite a reduction in charge transfer resistance (R<sub>ct</sub>) with the treated CF anodes, the power densities remained unchanged. These results suggest that untreated CF anodes could be most promising for enhancing power output in BESs, offering a cost-effective solution for large-scale MFC applications. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:32:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-8f7fc0ae497640828023192419ada945 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-666X |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T20:32:03Z |
| publishDate | 2023-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Micromachines |
| spelling | doaj.art-8f7fc0ae497640828023192419ada9452023-12-22T14:25:12ZengMDPI AGMicromachines2072-666X2023-11-011412214210.3390/mi14122142Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel CellsAbdelghani Ghanam0Sebastien Cecillon1Andrei Sabac2Hasna Mohammadi3Aziz Amine4François Buret5Naoufel Haddour6Univ Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, 69130 Ecully, FranceUniv Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, 69130 Ecully, FranceUniv Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, 69130 Ecully, FranceChemical Analysis and Biosensors Group, Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Techniques, Hassan II University of Casablanca, B.P 146, Mohammedia 20000, MoroccoChemical Analysis and Biosensors Group, Laboratory of Process Engineering and Environment, Faculty of Science and Techniques, Hassan II University of Casablanca, B.P 146, Mohammedia 20000, MoroccoUniv Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, 69130 Ecully, FranceUniv Lyon, Ecole Centrale de Lyon, INSA Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Ampère, UMR5005, 69130 Ecully, FranceThis research sought to enhance the efficiency and biocompatibility of anodes in bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) such as microbial fuel cells (MFCs), with an aim toward large-scale, real-world applications. The study focused on the effects of acid-heat treatment and chemical modification of three-dimensional porous pristine carbon felt (CF) on power generation. Different treatments were applied to the pristine CF, including coating with carbon nanofibers (CNFs) dispersed using dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS) surfactant and biopolymer chitosan (CS). These processes were expected to improve the hydrophilicity, reduce the internal resistance, and increase the electrochemically active surface area of CF anodes. A high-resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR-SEM) analysis confirmed successful CNF coating. An electrochemical analysis showed improved conductivity and charge transfer toward [Fe(CN)6]<sup>3−/4−</sup> redox probe with treated anodes. When used in an air cathode single-chamber MFC system, the untreated CF facilitated quicker electroactive biofilm growth and reached a maximum power output density of 3.4 W m<sup>−2</sup>, with an open-circuit potential of 550 mV. Despite a reduction in charge transfer resistance (R<sub>ct</sub>) with the treated CF anodes, the power densities remained unchanged. These results suggest that untreated CF anodes could be most promising for enhancing power output in BESs, offering a cost-effective solution for large-scale MFC applications.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/12/2142carbon felt (CF)microbial fuel cellanode materialsbiofilmpower densityelectroactive bacteria |
| spellingShingle | Abdelghani Ghanam Sebastien Cecillon Andrei Sabac Hasna Mohammadi Aziz Amine François Buret Naoufel Haddour Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells Micromachines carbon felt (CF) microbial fuel cell anode materials biofilm power density electroactive bacteria |
| title | Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells |
| title_full | Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells |
| title_fullStr | Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells |
| title_full_unstemmed | Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells |
| title_short | Untreated vs. Treated Carbon Felt Anodes: Impacts on Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells |
| title_sort | untreated vs treated carbon felt anodes impacts on power generation in microbial fuel cells |
| topic | carbon felt (CF) microbial fuel cell anode materials biofilm power density electroactive bacteria |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-666X/14/12/2142 |
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