• Membrane Journal
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.173-184
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• 2010

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising renewable energy source that can generate electrical energy from organic wastes using microbe. This technology has been regarded as a future green alternative energy in that MFC makes use of organic-rich wastewater and also reduces waste sludges as well as produces electricity. To be practically realized, however, achieving higher power density than now is demanded, which may be possible by eliminating various negative factors to act as resistances in MFC operations. For instance, highly activated microbes, highly conductive electrode materials, and fast electron transfer between microbes and electrodes can lead to MFC with high power density. In particular, polymer electrolyte membranes are also a key component for improved MFC performance.

• Journal of Korean Society of Water and Wastewater
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.225-234
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• 2006

Characteristics of electricity production from major fermentation products (acetate, propionate and butyrate) were evaluated in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). For each substrate, batch and continuous experiments were performed. The batch test result indicated that coulombic efficiency depended on the resistance connected in MFC circuit. With acetate, coulombic efficiency were 87% at $20{\Omega}$, but decreaced to 45% at$220{\Omega}$. In continuous tests, maximum power densities obtained was 220 Q with acetate. The maximum power densities of butyrate, acetate and propionate were 6.8, 6.1, and $5.2mW/m^2$, respectively. Propionate and butyrate were converted into acetate producing high currents. $H_2$ produced during butyrate and propionate probably used to produce electricity. In conclusion, butyrate conversion into acetate was faster than that of propionate with higher electricity production. If the production of propionate is inhibited during fermentation, anaerobically fermented liguor may be effectively applied for MFC.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.187-191
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• 2011

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were successfully enriched using sludge contaminated with Cr(VI) and their characteristics were investigated. After enrichment, the charge of the final 10 peaks was 0.51 C ${\pm}$ 1.16%, and the anodic electrode was found to be covered with a biofilm. The enriched MFCs removed 93% of 5 mg/l Cr(VI) and 61% of 25 mg/l Cr(VI). 16S rDNA DGGE profiles from the anodic electrode indicated that ${\beta}$-Proteobacteria, Actinobacteria, and Acinetobacter sp. dominated. This study is the first to report that electrochemically active and Cr(VI)-reducing bacteria could be enriched in the anode compartment of MFCs using Cr(VI)-containing sludge and demonstrates the Cr(VI) removal capability of such MFCs.

• Environmental Engineering Research
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.277-281
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• 2013

A dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) inoculated with Desulfovibrio desulfuricans and supplemented with lactate as an organic fuel was employed in this study. Biofilm formed on the anodic electrode was examined by scanning electron microscopy, revealing that the amount of biofilm was increased with repeated cycles of MFC operation. The maximum current production was notably increased from the first cycle ($1,310.0{\pm}22.3mA/m^2$) to the final cycle ($1,539.4{\pm}25.8mA/m^2$) of MFC run. Coulombic efficiency was also increased from $89.4%{\pm}0.2%$ to $98.9%{\pm}0.5%$. We suggest that the current production efficiency was related to the biomass of biofilm formed on the electrode, which was also increased as the MFC run was repeated. It was also found that D. desulfuricans, which colonized on the electrode, produced filaments or nano-pili. Nano-pili were effective for the attachment of cells on the electrode. In addition, the nano-pili provided a cell-to-cell link and stimulated the development of thicker electroactive biofilm, and therefore, they facilitated electron transfer to the anode. Conclusively, the biofilm of D. desulfuricans enhanced the current production in the MFC as a result of effective attachment of cells and electron transfer from the cell network to the electrode.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.47-52
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• 2015

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that can be obtained electricity from a variety of organic through the catalytic reaction of the microorganism. The MFC can be applied to various fields, and research is required to promote the performance of the microbial fuel cell for commercialization. The lower performance of an MFC is due to oxygen reduction at the cathode and the longer time of microbial degradation at anode. The MFC amount of power is sufficient but, in consideration of many factors, as a renewable energy, now commonly power density as compared to Nafion117 it is an ion exchange membrane used is PP (Poly Propylene) from 80 to about 11 fold higher, while reducing the cost to process wastewater is changed to a microporous non-woven fabric of a low cost, it may be energy-friendly environment to generate electricity. All waste, in that it can act as a bait for microorganisms, sustainability of the microbial fuel cell is limitless. The latest research on the optimization and performance of the operating parameters are surveyed and through the SSaM-GG(Smart, Shared, and Mutual- Green Growth) or GG-SSaM(Green Growth - Smart, Shared, and Mutual) as the concept of sustainable development in MFC, the middle indices are developed in this study.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.556-562
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• 2015

In order to remove the organic substances and the nitrate-nitrogen contained in wastewater, some researchers have studied the simultaneous removal of organics and nitrogen by using different biocathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The operating conditions for removing the contaminants in the MFCs are the external resistances, HRTs, the concentration of the influent wastewater, and other factors. This study aimed to determine the effect of the external resistors and organic loading rates, from the changing HRT, on the removal of the organics and nitrogen and on the production of electric power using the Denitrification Biocathode - Microbial Fuel Cell (DNB-MFC). As regards the results of the study, the removal efficiencies of $SCOD_{Cr}$ did not show any difference, but the nitrate-nitrogen removal efficiencies were increased by decreasing the external resistance. The maximum denitrification rate achieved was $129.2{\pm}13.54g\;NO_3{^-}-N/m^3/d$ in the external resistance $1{\Omega}$, and the maximum power density was $3,279mW/m^3$ in $10{\Omega}$. When the DNB-MFC was operated with increasing influent organic and nitrate loading by reducing the HRTs, the $NO_3{^-}-N$ removal efficiencies were increased linearly, and the maximum nitrate removal rate was $1,586g\;NO^3{^-}-N/m^3/d$ at HRT 0.6 h.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.8
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• pp.1360-1366
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• 2018

The fungi associated with termites secrete enzymes such as laccase (multi-copper oxidase) that can degrade extracellular wood matrix. Laccase uses molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor to catalyze the degradation of organic compounds. Owing to its ability to transfer electrons from the cathodic electrode to molecular oxygen, laccase has the potential to be a biocatalyst on the surface of the cathodic electrode of a microbial fuel cell (MFC). In this study, a two-chamber MFC using the laccase-producing fungus Galactomyces reessii was investigated. The fungus cultured on coconut coir was placed in the cathode chamber, while an anaerobic microbial community was maintained in the anode chamber fed by industrial rubber wastewater and supplemented by sulfate and a pH buffer. The laccase-based biocathode MFC (lbMFC) produced the maximum open circuit voltage of 250 mV, output voltage of 145 mV (with a $1,000{\Omega}$ resistor), power density of $59mW/m^2$, and current density of $278mA/m^2$, and a 70% increase in half-cell potential. This study demonstrated the capability of laccase-producing yeast Galactomyces reessii as a biocatalyst on the cathode of the two-chamber lbMFC.

• Membrane Journal
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.213-227
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• 2020

As unrenewable energy resources have depleted over the years, the demand for renewable energy has increased promoting research for more effective methods to produce renewable energy. The field of fuel cell development, specifically microbial fuel cells (MFCs), has developed because of the dual performance potential of the technology. MFCs convert power by facilitating electrode-reducing organisms such as bacteria (microbes) as a catalyst to produce electrical energy. MFCs use domestic and industrial wastewater as fuel to initiate the process, purifying the wastewater as a result. Proton exchange membranes (PEM) play a crucial role in MFCs as a separator between the anodes and cathodes chambers allowing only protons to effectively pass through. Nafion is the commercially used PEM for MFCs, but there are many setbacks: such as cost, production time, and less effective proton conductivity properties. In this review there will be largely two parts. Firstly, several newly developed PEM are discussed as possible replacements of Nafion. Secondly, MFC based on PEM, blended PEM and composite PEM are summarized.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.1019-1027
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• 2009

A noncompartmented microbial fuel cell (NCMFC) composed of a Mn(IV)-carbon plate and a Fe(III)-carbon plate was used for electricity generation from organic wastewater without consumption of external energy. The Fe(III)-carbon plate, coated with a porous ceramic membrane and a semipermeable cellulose acetate film, was used as a cathode, which substituted for the catholyte and cathode. The Mn(IV)-carbon plate was used as an anode without a membrane or film coating. A solar cell connected to the NCMFC activated electricity generation and bacterial consumption of organic matter contained in the wastewater. More than 99% of the organic matter was biochemically oxidized during wastewater flow through the four NCMFC units. A predominant bacterium isolated from the anode surface in both the conventional and the solar cell-linked NCMFC was found to be more than 99% similar to a Mn(II)-oxidizing bacterium and Burkeholderia sp., based on 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The isolate reacted electrochemically with the Mn(IV)-modified anode and produced electricity in the NCMFC. After 90 days of incubation, a bacterial species that was enriched on the Mn(IV)-modified anode surface in all of the NCMFC units was found to be very similar to the initially isolated predominant species by comparing 16S rDNA sequences.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.753-757
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• 2014

Anode electrode in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) should transfer the receiving electron as well as provide large surface area that can be immobilized microorganisms. Microorganisms' population is one of important factors to improve the current generation and to treat the livestock wastewater by biological treatment. These studies were attempted to investigate if stainless-steel wire skein (SSWS) could be used as anode electrode replacement a graphite felt electrode in microbial fuel cell. For these studies, pretreated livestock wastewater was used diluted to 500 mg/L as COD before use. At this time, the current showed a little difference of about 5% when using each of a SSW and graphite felt (control). There was no significant difference in the current value. The organic removal rate in the microbial fuel cells used graphite felt and SSWS was 82.4% and 88.3%, respectively. The COD removal in the MFC used the SSWS was higher than that of graphite felt. Ammonium nitrogen was showed similar trend in two case all. These results about current generation and organic matter reduction seem possible that SSWS was used to anode electrode. When SSWS is used, the initial investment for system construction is expected to be able to reduce by approximately 1/50.