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http://dx.doi.org/10.5338/KJEA.2007.26.2.179

Electricity Generation from Volatile Fatty Acids (VFAs) Using a Microbial Fuel Cell  

Oh, S.E. (Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University)
Kim, S.J. (Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University)
Yang, J.E. (Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University)
Jung, Y.S. (Department of Biological Environment, Kangwon National University)
Publication Information
Korean Journal of Environmental Agriculture / v.26, no.2, 2007 , pp. 179-185 More about this Journal
Abstract
A new technology that utilizes a microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been developed to generate electricity directly from the oxidation of organic matters such as carbohydrates or complex organics in wastewater. Fermentation of these organic matters results in production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), alcohols, $CO_2$ and $H_2$. We investigated the electricity-producing potential of the VFAs and actual food processing wastewater using a two-chambered MFC. The electrons produced by acetate degradation were proportional to acetate concentration in the medium. Acetate concentration and generated power were linearly correlated at a low range or acetate concentration (< 8 mg/L), but at above 8 mg/L of acetate the power produced was maintained at 0.1 mW. When butyrate was added to the anode acclimated to acetate, there was a lag period of 30 hr for electricity generation. However, when propionate was added to the same anode bottle, lag periods were not existed. The wastewater from baby food processing generated the maximum power density of $81{\pm}7\;mW/m^2$ of electricity and exhibited the Coulombic efficiencies of 27.1% and 40.5% based on TCOD and SCOD, respectively. Sugars in the food processing wastewater were reduced within 50 h from 230 mg/L < 30 mg/L.
Keywords
Microbial fuel cell; Volatile fatty acids; Electricity generation; Wastewater treatment;
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