• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.498-504
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• 2008

Metal-reducing bacterium, Geobacter sulfurreducens is available for mediator-less microbial fuel cell (MFC) because it has biological nanowires(pili) which transfer electrons to outside the cell. In this study, in the anode chamber of the MFC system using G. sulfurreducens, the concentrations of NaCl, sodium phosphate and sodium bicarbonate as electrolytes were mainly optimized for the generation of electricity from acetate. 0.4%(w/v) NaClO and 0.5M $H_2SO_4$ could be utilized for the sterilization of acrylic plates and proton exchange membrane (major construction materials of the MFC reactor), respectively. When NaCl concentration in anode phosphate buffer increased from 5 to 50 mM, power density increased from 6 to $20\;mW/m^2$. However, with increasing sodium phosphate buffer concentration from 5 to 50 mM, power density significantly decreased from 18 to $1\;mW/m^2$. Twenty-four mM sodium bicarbonate did not affect electricity generation as well as pH under 50 mM phosphate buffer condition. Optimized anode chamber of MFC using G. sulfurreducens generated relatively high power density ($20\;mW/m^2$) with the maximum coulombic efficiency (41.3%).

• 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 Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.159-166
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• 2009

This study has been attempted to generate electricity, while simultaneously treating artificial organic wastewater using both batch and continuous microbial fuel cells (MFCs). In the batch MFC, current-voltage curve showed an onset potential of -0.69 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The potential range between this potential and 0 potential displayed an available voltage for an automatic production of electric energy and glucose, which was oxidized and treated at the same time. The 486 mg/L glucose solution showed the maximum power of $30mW/m^2$ and the maximum current density of $75mA/m^2$ shown in the power curve. As a result, discharging of the cell containing COD 423 mg/L at the constant current density of $60mA/m^2$ showed a continuous electricity generation for about 22 hours that dropped rapidly due to dissipating of organic material. Total electric energy production was 18.0 Wh. While discharging, the pH change was low and dropped from pH 6.53 to 6.20 then increased to 6.47, then stabilized at this charge. The COD treatment efficiency was found to be 72%. In the continuous MFC, COD removal tends to increase as the hydraulic retention time is increased. At one day of hydraulic retention time as the maximum value reaches the COD removal efficiency, power production rate and power production rate per COD removal that were obtained were 68.8%, $14mW/m^2$, and $20.8mW/m^2/g$ CODrm, respectively. In the continuous MFC, the power production rate per COD removal increases as the hydraulic retention time is increased and decreases as the organic loading rate is increased. At the values lower than an organic loading rate of $1kgCOD/m^3/d$, the values higher than about $18.1mW/m^2/g$ CODrm could be obtained.

• 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.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2014

The composite anodes of exfoliated graphite (EG) and multiwall carbon nanotube (MWCNT) were fabricated by using the binders with different content of epoxy in Nafion solution. The influence of the epoxy content in the anode binder on the performance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) was examined in a batch reactor. With the increase in the epoxy content in the anode binder, increase in physical binding force was observed, but at the same time an increase in the internal resistance of MFC was also observed. This was due to the increase in activation and ohmic resistance. For the anode binder without epoxy, the maximum power density was $1,892mW/m^2$, but a decrease in maximum power density was observed with the increase in the epoxy content in the anode binder. With the epoxy content of 50% in the anode binder, a decrease in the maximum power density to $1,425mW/m^2$ was observed, which about 75.3% of the anode binder without epoxy is. However, the material consisting of the same amount of epoxy and Nafion solution is a good alternative for anode binder in terms of durability and economics of MFC.

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.36 no.11
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• pp.758-763
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• 2014

Soil microbial fuel cells (SMFC) have gained a great attention as an eco-friendly technology that can simultaneously generate electricity and treat organic pollutants from the contaminated soil. We evaluated the effect of electrode spacing and size on the performance of SMFC treating soil contaminated with organic pollutants. Maximum power density decreased with increase in electrode distance or decrease in electrode size, likely due to higher internal resistance. The maximum voltage and power density decreased from 326 mV and $19.5mW/m^2$ with 4 cm of electrode distance to 222 mV and $5.9mW/m^2$ with 9 cm of electrode distance. In case of electrode size test, the maximum voltage and power density generated was 291 mV, $0.34mW/m^3$ when both of anode and cathode area were $64cm^2$ with 4 cm of electrode distance. The maximum voltage decreased by 19~29% when the anode area decreased to $16cm^2$ while only 3~12% of voltage decreased with cathode area decrease. The maximum power density decreased by 49~68% with decreasing anode size, and by 29~47% with decreasing cathode size. These results showed that the anode area had more significant effects than the cathode area on the power generation of SMFC which has a high internal resistance due to a coexistence of soil and wastewater in the reactor.