Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell
The growing concern over global energy supplies has spurred much research into sustainable energy sources such as biomass energy. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology that generates electricity from the biologically mediated breakdown of organic s...
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| Other Authors: | |
| Format: | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2010
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| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39866 |
| _version_ | 1811680646743982080 |
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| author | So, Edmund Junwen. |
| author2 | Wang Jing-Yuan |
| author_facet | Wang Jing-Yuan So, Edmund Junwen. |
| author_sort | So, Edmund Junwen. |
| collection | NTU |
| description | The growing concern over global energy supplies has spurred much research into sustainable
energy sources such as biomass energy. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising
technology that generates electricity from the biologically mediated breakdown of organic
substrates. These include acetate, glucose or even wastewater, allowing the use of readily
available and sustainable energy sources. A prime limitation in MFC application is the
development of a pH gradient when a membrane is used to separate the anode and cathode
compartment. This pH gradient creates a barrier to charge transport, causing a loss of voltage
and power density. Phosphate buffer solution (PBS) is commonly added to MFCs to control pH
changes during operation. However, the cost and disposal issues of PBS remain a source of
concern.
A 3-chamber glucose-fed MFC with an anion exchange membrane (AEM) and cation exchange
membrane (CEM) was used to investigate the extraction of PBS from used MFC anolyte, with a
view to recycling PBS for subsequent batches. In proof-of-concept experiments, the middle
compartment of the MFC was used to contain 0.05 M PBS. During MFC operation, the ions in
the middle compartment were separated into the cathode and anode chambers, due to
electrokinetic force. This allowed for the transfer of phosphate into the anolyte, which did not
contain PBS in the beginning.
A maximum voltage of 0.0293 V and power density of 0.794 W/m2
using a 1 kΩ external
resistance was attained during operation of the MFC. At the same time, phosphate concentration
at the anolyte increased 5-7 times. The pH change at the anode registered a marginal drop of
3.4%. The phosphate migration across the AEM was found to be mainly diffusion-driven, but
electrokinetic force achieved an increase of 25% anode phosphate concentration. However, the
rate of phosphate accumulation was found to be insufficient to establish significant buffer
capacity at the anode. Nevertheless, these results demonstrate the potential for MFCs to perform
ion removal similar to electrodialysis, but without the need for external power sources. |
| first_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:28:22Z |
| format | Final Year Project (FYP) |
| id | ntu-10356/39866 |
| institution | Nanyang Technological University |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-10-01T03:28:22Z |
| publishDate | 2010 |
| record_format | dspace |
| spelling | ntu-10356/398662023-03-03T17:09:33Z Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell So, Edmund Junwen. Wang Jing-Yuan School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Residues and Resource Reclamation Centre DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Waste management The growing concern over global energy supplies has spurred much research into sustainable energy sources such as biomass energy. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology that generates electricity from the biologically mediated breakdown of organic substrates. These include acetate, glucose or even wastewater, allowing the use of readily available and sustainable energy sources. A prime limitation in MFC application is the development of a pH gradient when a membrane is used to separate the anode and cathode compartment. This pH gradient creates a barrier to charge transport, causing a loss of voltage and power density. Phosphate buffer solution (PBS) is commonly added to MFCs to control pH changes during operation. However, the cost and disposal issues of PBS remain a source of concern. A 3-chamber glucose-fed MFC with an anion exchange membrane (AEM) and cation exchange membrane (CEM) was used to investigate the extraction of PBS from used MFC anolyte, with a view to recycling PBS for subsequent batches. In proof-of-concept experiments, the middle compartment of the MFC was used to contain 0.05 M PBS. During MFC operation, the ions in the middle compartment were separated into the cathode and anode chambers, due to electrokinetic force. This allowed for the transfer of phosphate into the anolyte, which did not contain PBS in the beginning. A maximum voltage of 0.0293 V and power density of 0.794 W/m2 using a 1 kΩ external resistance was attained during operation of the MFC. At the same time, phosphate concentration at the anolyte increased 5-7 times. The pH change at the anode registered a marginal drop of 3.4%. The phosphate migration across the AEM was found to be mainly diffusion-driven, but electrokinetic force achieved an increase of 25% anode phosphate concentration. However, the rate of phosphate accumulation was found to be insufficient to establish significant buffer capacity at the anode. Nevertheless, these results demonstrate the potential for MFCs to perform ion removal similar to electrodialysis, but without the need for external power sources. Bachelor of Engineering (Environmental Engineering) 2010-06-07T06:09:21Z 2010-06-07T06:09:21Z 2010 2010 Final Year Project (FYP) http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39866 en Nanyang Technological University 35 p. application/pdf |
| spellingShingle | DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Waste management So, Edmund Junwen. Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| title | Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| title_full | Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| title_fullStr | Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| title_full_unstemmed | Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| title_short | Phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| title_sort | phosphate reuse in a microbial fuel cell |
| topic | DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Waste management |
| url | http://hdl.handle.net/10356/39866 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT soedmundjunwen phosphatereuseinamicrobialfuelcell |