• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.39-44
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• 2013

This study evaluated the effect of fluid flow on the power density in a horizontal-flow microbial fuel cell (MFC). The maximum power densities in four types of flow induced by different channel types in the anode chamber were investigated. The fluid flow at each channel was analyzed using tracer tests. Results of polarization curves showed that the maximum power densities of case 1, 2, 3 and 4 were 95.7, 129.1, 190.9 and 114.2 mW/m2, respectively. Case 3 with a set of guide walls where flow had an S type-like shape showed the highest power density. Based on the Morrill Dispersion Index (MDI) value of case 4, microbial activity would be enhanced since the reactor allows even distribution of substrate but the overflow occurrence would not guarantee stable performance. Therefore, case 3 could be an effective reactor type for MFC because of high electricity generation and stable performance.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.8
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• pp.5728-5735
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• 2015

This study attempts to verify the applicability of ceramic membrane as a separator by comparing the power generation characteristics in single-chamber MFCs using ceramic membranes to those in the MFCs using nafion membrane. The generated power in MFCs by using acetate as a substrate was more stable than that by using formate, propionate and butyrate, respectively. It was shown that the generated power by using formate substrate in MFCs was unstable and a little higher than that by using acetate, and the power generated by using propionate and butyrate were lower than that by using acetate. In order to find out the Pt catalyst effect, it was compared the power generated in MFCs using Pt-coated carbon cloth as electrode to that power using normal carbon cloth. The power generated in MFCs using Pt-coated carbon cloth as electrode was 1.2 times higher than that using normal carbon cloth. The Pt-coated carbon cloth was about 5 times more expensive than normal carbon cloth. It is suggested that both power generation efficiency and cost together should be considered in selecting electrodes of MFCs. It was found that the ceramic membrane was superior to nafion membrane by comparing to the power generation characteristics obtained. It was shown that average voltage values were $523.67mV{\pm}49.41mV$ by using synthetic wastewater, in MFCs of ceramic membrane as a separator. While average voltage values were $424.09mV{\pm}79.95mV$ by using synthetic wastewater, in MFCs of nafion membrane as a separator. The organic removal efficiency, 41.7% by using ceramic membrane was a little bit higher than 40.8% by using nafion membrane. This research implies ceramic membrane can be a valid alternative to nafion membrane as a separator when considering the power generation and the efficiency of organics removal.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2019

A benthic microbial fuel cells(BMFC) is fuel cell using electricity produced by decomposing organic matter in a sea or a lake. In this study, we used a gas diffusion layer (GDL) of a polymer electrolyte fuel cell (PEMFC) as a BMFC electrode to find out the operation conditions with high performance. The performance of BMFC was increased as resistance of external resistor increased. It was possible to maintain the performance by avoiding the increase of the contact resistance with the electrode due to corrosion of the lead wire in seawater. The bubble generator was able to increase the maximum power density by more than 2 times and the optimum operating temperature was $40^{\circ}C$.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.757-764
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• 2012

The surface of graphite fiber fabric anode was modified with a hydrogel and a mixture of hydrogel and multiwall carbon nanotube, and their effectiveness were compared to the unmodified anodes in a batch microbial fuel cell (microbial fuel cells). The maximum power density of the MFC was determined by both performance of the anode and cathode. The maximum power density for the MFC with the anode modified with the mixture of hydrogel and multiwall carbon nanotube was $1,162mW/m^2$ which was 27.7% higher than that with the unmodified graphite fiber fabric anode. "The mixture of hydrogel and multiwall carbon nanotube is a good surface modifier for anode with high biological affinity and low activation losses."

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.52-64
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• 2002

유기성 폐기물을 이용하여 생물학적 수소생산 통합화 시스템 연구를 수행하였다. 통합화 시스템은 유기성폐기물의 전처리, 2단계 혐기발효 및 광합성 배양으로 구성된 생물학적 수소생산 공정, 초임계수 가스화 공정, 생산된 가스의 저장, 분리 및 연료전지를 이용한 전력 생산으로 구성되었다. 실험에 사용된 유기성 폐자원은 식품공장 폐수, 과일폐기물, 하수슬러지이며, 전처리는 폐기물에 따라 열처리 및 물리적 처리를 하였으며, 전처리된 시료는 생물학적 수소생산 공정에 직접 적용되었다. Clostridium butyricum 및 메탄 생성조에서 발생하는 하수슬러지중의 미생물 복합체는 수소생산 혐기 발효공정에 사용되었으며, 광합성 수소생산 미생물인 홍색 비유황 세균은 광합성 배양에 사용되었다. 생물학적 공정에서 발생하는 미생물 슬러지는 초임계수 가스화 공정으로 수소를 발생하였으며, 슬러지 중의 COD를 저하시켰다. 생물학적 공정 및 초임계수 가스화 공정에서 발생하는 수소는 가스탱크에 가입상태로 저장한 후, 95%순도로 분리하였으며, 정제된 수소는 연료전지에 연결하여 전력 생산을 하였다.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.506-513
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• 2021

The use of fossil fuels is a major contributor to the increase atmospheric greenhouse gas emissions. As such problems arise, interest in new and renewable energy devices, particularly fuel cells, is greatly increasing. In this study, various characteristics of mixed strains were observed in wastewater collected by the Jeonju Environment Office to investigate the effects of microorganisms on voltage generation and voltage generation of substrates, electrode materials, electrons, electron transport media, and ash microbial fuel cells. As a result of separately measuring the voltage generated during inoculation, the inoculation voltage of Escherichia coli K12 (E. coli K12) was 0.45 V, and the maximum inoculation voltage of the mixed strain was 1.2 V. Thereafter, voltage values were collected using a digital multimeter and the amount of voltage generated over time was measured. In the case of E. coli K12, the maximum voltage reached 0.45 V, and the cell voltage was maintained above 0.23 V for 140 hours. In contrast, for the mixed strain, the maximum voltage reached 1.2 V and the voltage was slowly decreased to 0.97 V. In addition, the degree of microbial adsorption to the electrod surface after the inoculation test was confirmed using a scanning electron microscope. Therefore, these results showed the possibility of purifying pollutants at the same time as power generation through the production of hydrogen ions using microorganisms and wastewater.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.109-114
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• 2011

This study was conducted to investigate the effect of hydraulic retention time(HRT) on the power density in a horizontal flow microbial fuel cell(MFC) reactor. When HRTs were 15min, 30min, 60min and 180min, maximum power densities were $24.7mW/m^2$, $27.3mW/m^2$, $22.8mW/m^2$ and $17.2mW/m^2$, respectively. The highest power density was obtained at HRT of 30min. It was 59% improvement when compared to the power density at an HRT of 180min. When HRT was increased, COD removal rate increased whereas the coulombic efficiency remained constant. The result shows that the optimal performance of the horizontal flow MFC reactor could be achieved at HRT of 30min.

• 한국신재생에너지학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2006.06a
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• pp.470-473
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• 2006

생물학적 수소생산을 위해 토양으로부터 새로운 균주인 Enterobacter asburiae SNU-1이 분리되었다 이 균주의 경우 다른 균주와는 달리 미생물 생장과 수소생산 phase가 분리되는 특징을 가지고 있다. 이러한 정지기에서의 수소생산은 미생물 내에 존재하는 formate hydrogen lyase를 사응하여 formate 분해에 의해 일어난다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 미생물 생장 phase에서 formate hydrogen lyase가 발현된 미생물을 얻고 이를 formate만 있는 배지에서 수소생산 가능성에 대한 연구를 수행하였다. 앞으로 formate분해를 위한 조건을 최적화한다면 높은 수소생산성을 나타낼 것이라 기대된다. 또한, 이는 formate로부터 미생물촉매를 이용하여 수소를 생산하고 이를 연료전지로 공급하는 생물학적 reformer로써의 이용 가능성을 보여준다.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.31 no.9
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• pp.705-718
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• 2009

• Bulletin of Korea Environmental Preservation Association
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• v.29 s.369
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• pp.38-42
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• 2007