• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.335-340
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• 1995

Automatic biochemical oxygen demand(BOD) measurement system has heen developed using a microbial membrane electrode, prepared from Bacillus subtilis and polyvinyl alcohol(PVA). The automatic BOD measurement system showed a linear response curve up to BOD 60 ppm using a glucose/glutamic acid standard solution, and all the BOD measurement processes are carried out automatically to calculate BOD whithin 10 min after each sample injection. The response times of the microbial electrode was 5 minutes with a 5 min recovery time between measurements and the relative error of the BOD estimation was within 10%.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.146-152
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• 1997

A rapid BOD measurement system using a microbial membrane electrode has been developed. Culture of microorganism and the preparation of microbial membrane, the effect of sample flow rate on the BOD measurement, the effect of solution pH and response characteristics of the microbial membrane electrode were investigated. The rapid BOD measurement system developed by us was connected to a personal computer and the whole BOD measurement procedures were carried out automatically. The best results were obtained when the solution flow rate was 7.8mL/min and the data were obtained 5 minutes after sample injection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.36-39
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• 2013

We introduce a high-performance microbial fuel cell (MFC) that was operated using a 0.1M bicarbonate buffer as the cathodic electrolyte. The MFC had a 136.42 $mW/m^2$ maximum power density under continuous feeding of 5 mM acetate as fuel. Results of the electrode potential measurements showed that the cathode potential of the bicarbonate-buffered condition was higher than the phosphate-buffered condition, although the phosphate condition had less interfacial resistance between the membrane and electrolyte. Therefore, we posit here that the increased power of the bicarbonate-buffered MFC may be caused by the higher cathode potential rather than by the interfacial membrane-electrolyte resistance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.54 no.4
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• pp.453-458
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• 2016

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) were operated with pig wastes and PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells) MEA (Membrane and Electrode Assembly). Performance of hydrocarbon membrane was compared with that of perfluoro membrane at MFC condition. Sulfonated-Poly(Arylene Ether Sulfone) was used as hydrocarbon membrane and Gore membrane was used as perfluoro membrane. OCV of sPAES MEA was 50mV higher than that of Gore MEA and power density of sPAES MEA was similar that of Gore MEA. Reinforcement of sPAES membrane stabilized the performance of MEA in MFC. The highest performance was obtained at temperature of $45^{\circ}C$ and with culture solution circulation rate of 50 ml/min. The highest power density was $1,100mW/m^2$ at optimum condition in MFC using pig waste.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.438-441
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• 2005

A mediator-less microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used to determine the performance effects of a membrane­electrode assembly (MEA). The MFC with an MEA generated a higher current with an increased coulomb yield when compared to an MFC with a separate cathode. Less oxygen was diffused through an MEA than through a Nafion membrane. The MFC performance was improved with a buffer, although a high-strength buffer reduced the performance.

• Korean Chemical Engineering Research
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.175-181
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• 2014

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) were operated with livestock wastes and PEMFC (Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cells) MEA (Membrane and Electrode Assembly). OCV of MFC with mixtures of microbial was higher than that of MFC with single microbial. MFC using pig wastes showed highest OCV (540 mV) among cow waste, chicken waste and duck waste. And the power density of MFC using pig waste was $963mW/m^2$. Contamination of MEA with $Na^{2+}$, $Ca^{2+}$, $K^+$ ion and impurities was the one cause for low performance of MFC during operation.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.974-980
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• 1996

A biosensor was prepared with dual cathode electrode and immobilized enzyme membrane. A nylon net was used for the immobilization of glucose oxidase and alcohol oxidase. The immobilized enzymes were placed on the surface of the electrode which was prepared with one anode and two cathodes as an oxygen electrode. The determination of components by the biosensor was based on the consumption of dissolved oxygen. The optimum condition of this system was 0.1 M potassium phosphate buffer solution, pH 7.5 at $35^{\circ}C$. Glucose and ethanol in takju were simultaneously determined by the biosensor. Comparing with UV-spectrophotometer and gas chromatograph for cross checking, there was a good correlation between the biosensor and the conventional methods. Biosensor with dual cathode electrode required no clarification or pretreatments. It was used for simultaneous determination of glucose and ethanol during the fermentation of takju.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.34 no.12
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• pp.3649-3653
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• 2013

As anode fabrication with different materials has been proven to be a successful alternative for enhancing power generation in the microbial fuel cells, a new approach to improved performance of MFCs with the use of menadione/carbon powder composite-modified carbon cloth anode has been explored in this study. Menadione has formal potential to easily accept electrons from the outer membrane cytochromes of electroactive bacteria that can directly interact with the solid surface. Surface bound menadione was able to maintain an electrical wiring with the trans-membrane electron transfer pathways to facilitate extracellular electron transfer to the electrode. In a single chamber air cathode MFC inoculated with aerobic sludge, maximum power density of $1250{\pm}35mWm^{-2}$ was achieved, which was 25% higher than that of an unmodified anode. The observed high power density and improved coulomb efficiency of 61% were ascribed to the efficient electron shuttling via the immobilized menadione.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.324-329
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• 2004

Oxygen diffuses through the cation-specific membrane, reducing the coulomb yield of the fuel cell. In the present study, attempts were made to enhance current generation from the fuel cell by lowering the oxygen diffusion, including the uses of ferricyanide as a cathode mediator and of a platinum-coated graphite electrode. Ferricyanide did not act as a mediator as expected, but as an oxidant in the cathode compartment of the microbial fuel cell. The microbial fuel cell with platinum-coated graphite cathode generated a maximum current 3-4 times higher than the control fuel cell with graphite cathode, and the critical oxygen concentration of the former was 2.0 mg $1^{-1}$, whilst that of the latter was 6.6 mg $1^{-1}$. Based on these results, it was concluded that inexpensive electrodes are adequate for the construction of an economically feasible microbial fuel cell with better performance as a novel wastewater treatment process.

• 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.