• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.225-231
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• 2014

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) and bioelectrochemical systems are novel bioprocesses which employ exoelectrogenic biofilm on electrode as a biocatalyst for electricity generation and various useful chemical production. Previous reports show that electrogenic biofilms of MFCs are time varying systems and dynamically interactive with the electrically conductive media (carbon paper as terminal electron acceptor). It has been reported that maximum power point tracking (MPPT) method can automatically control load by algorithm so that increase power generation and columbic efficiency. In this study, we developed logic based control strategy for external load resistance by using $LabVIEW^{TM}$ which increases the power production with using flat-plate MFCs and MPPT circuit board. The flat-plate MFCs inoculated with anaerobic digester sludge were stabilized with fixed external resistance from $1000{\Omega}$ to $100{\Omega}$. Automatic load control with MPPT started load from $52{\Omega}$ during 120 hours of operation. MPPT control strategy increased approximately 2.7 times of power production and power density (1.95 mW and $13.02mW/m^3$) compared to the initial values before application of MPPT (0.72 mW and $4.79mW/m^3$).

• Journal of Korean Society of Environmental Engineers
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• v.38 no.6
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• pp.279-290
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• 2016

The performance of upflow anaerobic bioelectrochemical reactor (UABE), equipped with electrodes (anode and cathode) inside the upflow anaerobic reactor, was compared to that of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater. The UASB was stable in pH, alkalinity and VFAs until the organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.0 g COD/L.d, but it became unstable over 4.0 g COD/L.d. As a response to the abrupt doubling in OLR, the perturbation in the state variables for the UABE was smaller, compared to the UASB, and quickly recovered. The UABE stability was better than the UASB at higher OLR of 4.0-8.0 g COD/L.d, and the UABE showed better performance in specific methane production rate (2,076mL $CH_4/L.d$), methane content in biogas (66.8%), and COD removal efficiency (82.3%) at 8.0 g COD/L.d than the UASB. The maximum methane yield in UABE was about 407mL/g $COD_r$ at 4.0 g COD/L.d, which was considerably higher than about $282mL/g\;COD_r$ in UASB. The rate limiting step for the bioelectrochemical reaction in UABE was the oxidation of organic matter on the anode surface, and the electrode reactions were considerably affected by the pH at 8.0 g COD/L.d of high OLR. The maximum energy efficiency of UABE was 99.5%, at 4.0 g COD/L.d of OLR. The UABE can be an advanced high rate anaerobic process for the treatment of acidic distillery wastewater.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.396-396
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• 2022

생물전기화학적 혐기성소화(Bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion; BEAD)는 소량의 전압공급을 통해 고농도 하·폐수의 효과적인 처리 및 에너지 회수가 가능한 처리방법으로, 기존 하·폐수처리공정(활성슬러지 및 그 변법)에서 벗어나기 위한 방법 중 하나로 연구되고 있지만, 내부저항 및 전극구조에 따른 물질전달저해로 인해 소규모 연구 위주로 진행되었다. 하지만 stainless steel(SS) 등 내부저항을 완화할 수 있는 전극재료 및 전극구조 개선 연구가 진행됨에 따라 BEAD 적용규모가 증가하는 추세이며, 본 연구에서는 100 L의 용량에서 전극재질 및 구조에 따른 적용적합성을 에너지효율 비교를 통해 평가하였다. 반응조는 비교를 위한 AD, 반응조 내부에 전극을 설치한 BEAD, 반응조 외부에 전극이 포함된 반응조를 추가한 ABEAD로 구성하였으며, AD 및 BEAD는 기계적 교반, ABEAD는 기계적 교반 및 펌프를 통한 bulk 용액 순환으로 물질전달이 이뤄졌다. 또한 BEAD는 탄소계 전극, ABEAD는 SS계 전극을 사용하였으며 두 반응조 모두 0.4 V의 전압을 공급하였다. 실험조건은 유효용량 100 L, 유기물부하율 3 kg/m³/d, HRT 20 days 및 중온소화(35℃)으로 운전하였다. 실험결과 AD, BEAD 및 ABEAD의 유기물제거율은 각각 평균 68.1 %, 68.9 %, 74.9 %로 전극 및 반응조의 분리를 통해 물질전달을 개선한 ABEAD에서 증가하였다. 에너지 생성량의 경우 AD에 비해 BEAD는 평균 229 kJ/d, ABEAD는 309 kJ/d가 추가 생성되었으며 유기물제거율이 높은 ABEAD에서 더 높은 에너지생산이 이뤄졌다. 마지막으로 전압공급으로 인한 에너지소비량은 BEAD는 평균 3.4 kJ/d, ABEAD는 평균 0.9 kJ/d로 전극의 낮은 생물적합성으로 인해 전극에서의 생화학반응이 적은 ABEAD가 에너지소비량이 낮았다. 따라서 본 연구에서는 SS 전극의 사용가능성 및 전극구조 개선에 따른 에너지효율성 향상을 확인할 수 있었으며, 추후 연구에 활용할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.

• Proceedings of the Korea Water Resources Association Conference
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• 2022.05a
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• pp.397-397
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• 2022

오늘날 급격한 인구증가 및 도시화로 인해 음식물류 폐기물 발생량이 크게 증가하였으며, 음식물류 폐기물에서 발생되는 음폐수의 적절한 처리방안에 대한 관심이 증가하였다. 혐기성 소화(Anaerobic digestion; AD)는 음폐수의 바람직한 처리방법으로 알려졌지만, 긴 처리기간 및 공정 불안정 등의 문제로 개선이 필요하며, 그 중 기존 AD에 보조 반응조를 추가한 보조 미생물전기화학적 혐기성소화(Auxiliary bioelectrochemical anaerobic digestion; ABEAD)가 적절한 개선방안으로 제시되었다. 하지만 아직 20 L 이상 용량에서의 연구는 이뤄지지 않았으며, 따라서 본 연구에서는 100 L의 용량에서 ABEAD의 성능향상을 평가하고 규모증가에 따른 성능변화를 비교하였다. 반응조는 AD와 ABEAD로 구성되었다. 유효용량 100 L, 유기물부하율 4 kg/m³/d, HRT 20 days 및 중온소화(35℃) 조건으로 운전하였으며, AD는 기계적 교반, ABEAD는 기계적 교반 및 펌프를 통한 bulk 용액 순환이 이뤄졌다. ABEAD의 전극재질은 SUS304를 사용하였고, 0.4V의 전압을 공급하였다. 성능비교는 pH, 휘발성지방산(Volatile fatty acids; VFAs), 유기물제거율 및 메탄 생성량을 비교해 수행하였다. 실험결과 AD는 pH 및 VFAs가 각각 평균 7.37 및 3,880 mg/L, ABEAD는 각각 평균 7.5 및 2,870 mg/L로 VFAs의 빠른 처리를 통해 공정안전성 향상되었고, 유기물제거율 및 메탄생성량의 경우 AD는 각각 평균 65.8 % 및 85.1 L/d, ABEAD는 각각 평균 76.1 % 및 108.1 L/d로 유기물의 빠른 처리 및 메탄전환이 이루어져 비교적 큰 규모에서도 ABEAD의 성능향상이 나타남을 확인하였다. 또한 이전 소규모 연구들과 비교를 통해 규모에 따른 성능향상폭을 비교했을 때에도 큰 차이가 나지 않는 것으로 판단되며, 따라서 ABEAD는 BEAD 기술의 상용화 및 적용에 적합한 것으로 사료된다.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.10
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• pp.3726-3729
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• 2011

Biofilm formation is inevitable in a bioelectrochemical system in which microorganisms act as a sole biocatalyst. Cathodic biofilm (CBF) works as a double-edged sword in the performance of the air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Proton and oxygen crossover through the CBF are limited by the robust structure of extracellular polymeric substances, composition of available constituents and environmental condition from which the biofilm is formed. The MFC performance in terms of power, current and coulombic efficiency is influenced by the nature and origin of CBF. Development of CBF from different ecological environment while keeping the same anode inoculums, contributes additional charge transfer resistance to the total internal resistance, with increase in coulombic efficiency at the expense of power reduction. This study demonstrates that MFC operation conditions need to be optimized on the choice of initial inoculum medium that leads to the biofilm formation on the air cathode.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• v.45 no.3
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• pp.410-420
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• 2012

The heavy reliance on fossil fuels, especially oil and gas has triggered the global energy crisis. Continued use of petroleum fuels is now widely recognized as unsustainable because of their depleting supplies and degradation to the environment. To become less dependent on fossil fuels, current world is shifting paradigm in energy by developing alternative energy sources mainly through the utilization of renewable energy sources. In particular, bioenergy recovery from wastes with the help of microorganism is viewed as one of the promising ways to mitigate the current global warming crisis as well as to supply global energy. It has been proved that microorganism can generate power by converting organic matter into electricity using microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFC is a bioelectrochemical device that employs microbes to generate electricity from bio-convertible substrate such as wastewaters including municipal solid waste, industrial, agriculture wastes, and sewage. Sustainability, carbon neutral and generation of renewable energy are some of the major features of MFCs. However, the MFC technology is confronted with a number of issues and challenges such as low power production, high electrode material cost and so on. This paper reviews the recent developments in MFC technology with due consideration of electrode materials used in MFCs. In addition, application of biocathodes in MFCs has been discussed.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.409-415
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• 2015

This study was performed to optimize the integrated anaerobic digestion (AD) and microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) for the enhanced hydrogen production. The optimum operational conditions of integrated AD and MECs were obtained using response surface methodology. The optimum substrate concentration and operational pH were 10 g/L and 6.8, respectively. In the confirm test, 1.43 mol $H_2/mol$ hexose was achieved, which was 2.5 times higher than only AD. After 40 to 60 hour at seeding, the volatile fatty acids (VFAs) in reactor of AD were not changed. However the VFAs of reactor of AD-MECs were reduced by 61.3% (acetate: 76.4%, butyrate: 50.0%, lactate: 55.0%).

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.303-310
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• 2023

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a bioelectrochemical system where electrochemically active bacteria convert organic waste into electricity. Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and chitosan (CS) are polymers that have been studied as potential alternative ion exchange membranes to Nafion for many electrochemical systems. This study examined the optimal mixing ratio of PVA and chitosan CS in a PVA:CS composite membrane for MFC applications. PVA:CS composite membranes with 1:1, 2:1, and 3:1 ratios were synthesized and tested. The water uptake and ion exchange capacity, Fourier transform infrared spectra, and scanning electron microscopy images were analyzed to determine the physicochemical properties of PVA:CS membranes. The prepared membranes were applied to the ion exchange membrane of the MFC system, and their effects on the electrochemical performance were evaluated. These results showed that the composite membrane with a 3:1 (PVA:CS) ratio showed comparable performance to the commercialized Nafion membrane and produced more electricity than the other synthesized membranes. The PVA:CS membrane implemented MFCs produced a maximum power density of 0.026 mW cm^-2 from organic waste with stable performance. Therefore, it can be applied to a cost-effective MFC system.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.154-161
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• 2011

L. lactis sk071115 has been shown to grow more actively and generate lower levels of lactate in glucose-defined medium with nitrate than in medium with Mn(IV). By adding Mn(IV) to a L. lactis culture, lactate production was relatively reduced in combination with Mn(II) production, but cell mass production levels did not increase. Both cell-free extract and intact L. lactis cells reacted electrochemically with Mn(IV) but did not react with Mn(II) upon cyclic voltammetry using neutral red (NR) as an electron mediator. A modified graphite felt cathode with NR (NR-cathode) was employed to induce electrochemical reducing equivalence for bacterial metabolism. Cell-free L. lactis extract catalyzed the reduction of Mn(IV) to Mn(II) under both control and electrochemical reduction conditions; however, the levels of Mn(II) generated under electrochemical reduction conditions were approximately 4 times those generated under control conditions. The levels of Mn(II) generated by the catalysis of L. lactis immobilized in the NR-cathode (L-NR-cathode) under electrochemical reduction conditions were more than 4 times that generated under control conditions. Mn(II) production levels were increased by approximately 2.5 and 4.5 times by the addition of citrate to the reactant under control and electrochemical reduction conditions, respectively. The cumulative Mn(II) produced from manganese ore by catalysis of the L-NR-cathode for 30 days reached levels of approximately 3,800 and 16,000 mg/l under control and electrochemical reduction conditions, respectively. In conclusion, the electrochemical reduction reaction generated by the NR-cathode activated the biochemical reduction of Mn(IV) to Mn(II) by L. lactis.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.687-697
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• 2023

Identification of novel, electricity-producing bacteria has garnered remarkable interest because of the various applications of electricigens in microbial fuel cell and bioelectrochemical systems. Shewanella marisflavi BBL25, an electricity-generating microorganism, uses various carbon sources and shows broader sugar utilization than the better-known S. oneidensis MR-1. To determine the sugar-utilizing genes and electricity production and transfer system in S. marisflavi BBL25, we performed an in-depth analysis using whole-genome sequencing. We identified various genes associated with carbon source utilization and the electron transfer system, similar to those of S. oneidensis MR-1. In addition, we identified genes related to hydrogen production systems in S. marisflavi BBL25, which were different from those in S. oneidensis MR-1. When we cultured S. marisflavi BBL25 under anaerobic conditions, the strain produced 427.58 ± 5.85 µl of biohydrogen from pyruvate and 877.43 ± 28.53 µl from xylose. As S. oneidensis MR-1 could not utilize glucose well, we introduced the glk gene from S. marisflavi BBL25 into S. oneidensis MR-1, resulting in a 117.35% increase in growth and a 17.64% increase in glucose consumption. The results of S. marisflavi BBL25 genome sequencing aided in the understanding of sugar utilization, electron transfer systems, and hydrogen production systems in other Shewanella species.