Experimental evaluation of influential factors for electricity harvesting from sediment using microbial fuel cell

• Published in: Bioresource technology Vol. 100; no. 12; pp. 3029 - 3035
• Main Authors: Hong, Seok Won, Chang, In Seop, Choi, Yong Su, Chung, Tai Hak
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01-06-2009; [New York, NY]: Elsevier Ltd; Elsevier
• Subjects: Bioelectric Energy Sources - microbiology; Biofuel production; Biological and medical sciences; Biotechnology; Computer-Aided Design; Controllable and uncontrollable factors; Current production; Electricity; Electrochemistry - instrumentation; Electrodes; Energy; Equipment Design; Equipment Failure Analysis; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Geologic Sediments - microbiology; Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects; Limiting factors; Optimizing operation conditions; Reproducibility of Results; Sediment microbial fuel cells; Sensitivity and Specificity; Sediment microbial fuel cells; Optimizing operation conditions; Current production; Limiting factors; Controllable and uncontrollable factors; Electricity; Microbial electrode; Biochemical fuel cell; Limiting factor; Harvesting; Sediments; Optimization
• ISSN: 0960-8524; 1873-2976
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.01.030

The aim of this study was to evaluate limiting factors affecting electricity output from sediment microbial fuel cells (sediment MFCs). In laboratory tests, various factors likely to be encountered in field application were divided into controllable and uncontrollable ones. Based on the findings, it could be suggested that the sediment MFCs can be operated with an anode to cathode area ratio of at least 5:1 and at high external loads (1000
Ω) when the cathode is closely placed to the anode, though DO concentration at the cathode must be kept above 3
mg/l. Furthermore, no significant effect on current production over a prolonged period was observed within the sediment temperature range of 20–35
°C, but was negatively affected by lower temperatures (10
°C). These observations provide important factors with respect to the construction and operation of sediment MFCs at field sites, which will aid in maximizing electricity output.