Enhancing microbial fuel cell performance using anode modified with Fe3O4 nanoparticles

• Published in: Bioprocess and biosystems engineering Vol. 45; no. 5; pp. 877 - 890
• Main Authors: Zheng, Xiaoya, Hou, Shanshan, Amanze, Charles, Zeng, Zichao, Zeng, Weimin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-05-2022; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Biochemical fuel cells; Biotechnology; Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Electrochemical analysis; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electrode materials; Electron transfer; Environmental Engineering/Biotechnology; Food Science; Fuel cells; Fuel technology; Geobacter; Industrial and Production Engineering; Industrial Chemistry/Chemical Engineering; Iron oxides; Magnetite; Maximum power density; Microorganisms; Nanoparticles; Next-generation sequencing; Research Paper; Spectroscopy; Magnetite nanoparticles; Microbial fuel cell; Electricity generation; Microbial community
• ISSN: 1615-7591; 1615-7605
• DOI: 10.1007/s00449-022-02705-z

Low electricity generation efficiency is one of the key issues that must be addressed for the practical application of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Modification of microbial electrode materials is an effective method to enhance electron transfer. In this study, magnetite (Fe
3
O
4
) nanoparticles synthesized by co-precipitation were added to anode chambers in different doses to explore its effect on the performance of MFCs. The maximum power density of the MFCs doped with 4.5 g/L Fe
3
O
4
(391.11 ± 9.4 mW/m
2
) was significantly increased compared to that of the undoped MFCs (255.15 ± 24.8 mW/m
2
). The COD removal efficiency of the MFCs increased from 85.8 ± 2.8% to 95.0 ± 2.1%. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry tests revealed that the addition of Fe
3
O
4
nanoparticles enhanced the biocatalytic activity of the anode. High-throughput sequencing results indicated that 4.5 g/L Fe
3
O
4
modified anodes enriched the exoelectrogen
Geobacter
(31.5%), while control MFCs had less
Geobacter
(17.4%). Magnetite is widely distributed worldwide, which provides an inexpensive means to improve the electrochemical performance of MFCs.