Bioelectricity Production from Soil Using Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a device using microorganisms as biocatalysts for transforming chemical energy into bioelectricity. As soil is an environment with the highest number of microorganisms and diversity, we hypothesized that it should have the potential for energy generation. The soil used for the study was Mollic Gleysol collected from the surface layer (0–20 cm). Four combinations of soil MFC differing from each other in humidity (full water holding capacity [WHC] and flooding) and the carbon source (glucose and straw) were constructed. Voltage (mV) and current intensity (μA) produced by the MFCs were recorded every day or at 2-day intervals. The fastest and the most effective MFCs in voltage generation (372.2?±?5 mV) were those constructed on the basis of glucose (MFC-G). The efficiency of straw MFCs (MFC-S) was noticeable after 2 weeks (319.3?±?4 mV). Maximal power density (P _max?=?32 mW m^?2) was achieved by the MFC-G at current density (CD) of 100 mA m^?2. Much lower values of P _max (10.6–10.8 mW m^?2) were noted in the MFC-S at CD of ca. 60–80 mA m^?2. Consequently, soil has potential for production of renewable energy.     

Effect of Contact Area and Shape of Anode Current Collectors on Bacterial Community Structure in Microbial Fuel Cells

Low electrical conductivity of carbon materials is a source of potential loss for large carbonaceous electrode surfaces of MFCs due to the long distance traveled by electrons to the collector. In this paper, different configurations of titanium current collectors were used to connect large surfaces of carbon cloth anodes. The current collectors had different distances and contact areas to the anode. For the same anode surface (490 cm²), increasing the contact area from 28 cm² to 70 cm² enhanced power output from 58 mW·m⁻² to 107 mW·m⁻². For the same contact area (28 cm²), decreasing the maximal distance of current collectors to anodes from 16.5 cm to 7.75 cm slightly increased power output from 50 mW·m⁻² to 58 mW·m⁻². Molecular biology characterization (qPCR and 16S rRNA gene sequencing) of anodic bacterial communities indicated that the Geobacter number was not correlated with power. Moreover, Geobacter and Desulfuromonas abundance increased with the drop in potential on the anode and with the presence of fermentative microorganisms. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) showed that biofilm resistance decreased with the abundance of electroactive bacteria. All these results showed that the electrical gradient arising from collectors shapes microbial communities. Consequently, current collectors influence the performance of carbon-based anodes for full-scale MFC applications.     

生物阴极微生物燃料电池

传统微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cells,MFCs)主要由生物阳极与非生物阴极组成,属于半生物燃料电池,存在化学药剂再生困难、需要铂等贵金属催化及成本高等缺陷。生物阴极则利用微生物参与阴极反应克服了这些缺陷。微生物参与MFCs阴极反应,最初在海底沉积物MFCs中被发现。为了提高空气-生物阴极的产电效率,人们进行了以铁、锰等过渡金属氧化物修饰电极材料的研究。在厌/缺氧环境中,生物阴极可将硝酸盐和硫酸盐等作为最终电子受体。对生物阴极研究的深入为MFCs工业化应用开辟了道路,此外,本文在文献综述的基础上提出了铁锰联合修饰生物阴极材料的可能性。     

微生物燃料电池生物阴极

微生物燃料电池(microbial fuel cells, MFCs)利用微生物处理废水的同时产电,是一种清洁可再生能源技术。近年来新兴起的生物阴极是指阴极室中的功能微生物附着在电极表面形成生物膜,电子由电极传递给微生物并发生相应的生物电化学反应;是微生物燃料电池研究的一个重要方向。本文根据厌氧、好氧操作体系的不同将生物阴极进行分类;归纳总结了微生物组成、电极和分隔材料的研究进展,探讨了生物阴极在去除污染物和生成高附加值产品中的实际应用,并提出了其将来发展的可能方向。     

微生物燃料电池阴极脱氮

微生物燃料电池(MFC)阴极电子受体的多样性可实现其阴极脱氮,从而将产生的电能合理利用,因此阴极脱氮成为了MFC的一个研究方向,同时也为实际废水中氮素的去除提供了新的可能。然而在反应过程中有众多因素会导致NOx-N与其他电子受体竞争阳极电子的现象,影响阴极反硝化过程对于电子的利用率,从而造成脱氮效率低等现实问题。目前已有许多研究通过优化MFC自身结构弥补产电的缺陷,及将与其他工艺系统耦合实现同步硝化反硝化等方法,取长补短以增加脱氮效率,降低对碳源的需求,以此解决微生物燃料电池阴极脱氮出现的问题。本文从MFC不同的脱氮历程、MFC工艺条件(pH、C/N、DO)、极室分隔材料等影响MFC阴极脱氮的因素及影响其阴极反硝化微生物群落构成等方面,进行了综述并预测未来研究方向。     

Municipal Solid Waste Landfill Leachate Treatment and Electricity Production Using Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells were designed and operated to treat landfill leachate while simultaneously producing electricity. Two designs were tested in batch cycles using landfill leachate as a substrate without inoculation (908 to 3,200 mg/L chemical oxygen demand (COD)): Circle (934 mL) and large-scale microbial fuel cells (MFC) (18.3 L). A total of seven cycles were completed for the Circle MFC and two cycles for the larger-scale MFC. Maximum power densities of 24 to 31 mW/m² (653 to 824 mW/m³) were achieved using the Circle MFC, and a maximum voltage of 635 mV was produced using the larger-scale MFC. In the Circle MFC, COD, biological oxygen demand (BOD), total organic carbon (TOC), and ammonia were removed at an average of 16%, 62%, 23%, and 20%, respectively. The larger-scale MFC achieved an average of 74% BOD removal, 27% TOC removal, and 25% ammonia reduction while operating over 52 days. Analysis of the microbial characteristics of the leachate indicates that there might be both supportive and inhibiting bacteria in landfill leachate for operation of an MFC. Issues related to scale-up and heterogeneity of a mixed substrate remain.     

影响MFC产电能力及污水净化的非生物因素研究

以厌氧污泥接种模拟生活污水, 构建双室无介体型微生物燃料电池(MFC). 以输出功率密度、库仑效率和COD_Cr(化学需氧量)去除率为评价指标, 采用正交设计考察4种非生物因素(即阴、阳极材料、底物和电子受体)对MFC产电及污水净化的影响. 在此基础上进一步探讨阴极离子浓度对电能输出的影响. 结果表明: 对MFC产能及污水净化的影响因素顺序为: 电子受体＞阳极＞阴极＞底物, 最优组合为碳毡-乳酸钠-不锈钢板-铁氰化钾＋溶解氧|向阴极液中投加NaCl可使产电能力显著增强, 最佳投加量为150 mmol•L^－1. 同时, 阴极室定期添加铁氰化钾可维持电流稳定. 试验中, 葡萄糖型、乳酸钠型以及混合型底物模拟污水的COD_Cr均得到有效去除, 平均去除率达85.2%, 显示了研究的MFC具有很强的产电和污水净化能力.     

金属离子在微生物燃料电池中的行为

在废水处理方面,微生物燃料电池具有在净化废水的同时回收能源或有价值化学品等突出优点,已经成为人们研究的热点。在微生物燃料电池中,金属离子能直接或者间接参与阳极和阴极过程,其对溶液的电导率、反应器的内阻和功率密度、产电微生物的活性等都有重要影响。本文综述了金属离子参与微生物燃料电池的机制及其影响因素,并且介绍了微生物燃料电池在去除废水或者固体废弃物中重金属离子方面的优势和发展前景。     

Power Generation Capabilities of Microbial Fuel Cells with Different Oxygen Supplies in the Cathodic Chamber

Two microbial fuel cells (MFCs) inoculated with activated sludge of a wastewater treatment plant were constructed. Oxygen was provided by mechanical aeration in the cathodic chamber of one MFC, whereas it was obtained by the photosynthesis of algae in the other. Electrogenic capabilities of both MFCs were compared under the same operational conditions. Results showed that the MFC with mechanical aeration in the cathodic chamber displayed higher power output than the one with photosynthesis of algae. Good linear relationship between power density and chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate was obtained only on the MFC with mechanical aeration. Furthermore, the relationships between power density and effluent COD and between Coulombic efficiency and COD loading rate can only be expressed as binary quadratic equations for the MFC with mechanical aeration and not for the one with photosynthesis of algae.     

微生物燃料电池的产电机制

微生物燃料电池(MFC)利用微生物作催化剂直接从可降解有机物中提取电能,它具有废弃物处置与产电双重功效,是未来理想的产电方式和有机废弃物资源化处置工艺.当前MFC技术的主要限制因素是电池输出功率低.MFC产电机制的研究是深入掌握电池工作状态、改善电池构造、优化电极材料从而提高输出功率的理论基础.本文将MFC产电机制分为5个步骤,即底物生物氧化、阳极还原、外电路电子传输、质子迁移、阴极反应,对其进行了详细评述,并提出了产电机制的发展趋势与今后的研究思路.     

微生物燃料电池电极材料研究进展

微生物燃料电池以微生物为催化剂将化学能直接转化成电能,可用于废水处理并产生电能,是一种极具应用前景的生物电化学技术. 本文综述了近年来微生物燃料电池电极材料的制备、功能修饰及表面构建等的研究进展,着重介绍了炭基纳米材料的微结构与成分对微生物燃料电池性能的影响,并分析了微生物燃料电池电极材料现存的主要问题,以期不久的将来微生物燃料电池能付之实用.     

Meta-analysis of Microbial Fuel Cells Using Waste Substrates

Microbial fuel cell experimentation using waste streams is an increasingly popular field of study. One obstacle to comparing studies has been the lack of consistent conventions for reporting results such that meta-analysis can be used for large groups of experiments. Here, 134 unique microbial fuel cell experiments using waste substrates were compiled for analysis. Findings include that coulombic efficiency correlates positively with volumetric power density (p < 0.001), negatively with working volume (p < 0.05), and positively with percentage removal of chemical oxygen demand (p < 0.005). Power density in mW/m² correlates positively with chemical oxygen demand loading (p < 0.005), and positively with maximum open-circuit voltage (p < 0.05). Finally, single-chamber versus double-chamber reactor configurations differ significantly in maximum open-circuit voltage (p < 0.005). Multiple linear regression to predict either power density or maximum open-circuit voltage produced no significant models due to the amount of multicollinearity between predictor variables. Results indicate that statistically relevant conclusions can be drawn from large microbial fuel cell datasets. Recommendations for future consistency in reporting results following a MIAMFCE convention (Minimum Information About a Microbial Fuel Cell Experiment) are included.     

Microbial Fuel Cells: The Effects of Configurations,Electrolyte Solutions,and Electrode Materials on Power Generation

This objective of this study is to conduct a systematic investigation of the effects of configurations, electrolyte solutions, and electrode materials on the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFC). A comparison of voltage generation, power density, and acclimation period of electrogenic bacteria was performed for a variety of MFCs. In terms of MFC configuration, membrane-less two-chamber MFCs (ML-2CMFC) had lower internal resistance, shorter acclimation period, and higher voltage generation than the conventional two-chamber MFCs (2CMFC). In terms of anode solutions (as electron donors), the two-chamber MFCs fed with anaerobic treated wastewater (AF-2CMFCs) had the power density 19 times as the two-chamber MFCs fed with acetate (NO₃ ⁻2CMFCs). In terms of cathode solutions (as electron acceptors), AF-2CMFCs with ferricyanide had higher voltage generation than that of ML-2CMFCs with nitrate (NO₃ ⁻ML-2CMFCs). In terms of electrode materials, ML-2CMFCs with granular-activated carbon as the electrode (GAC-ML-2CMFCs) had a power density 2.5 times as ML-2CMFCs with carbon cloth as the electrode. GAC-ML-2CMFCs had the highest columbic efficiency and power output among all the MFCs tested, indicating that the high surface area of GAC facilitate the biofilm formation, accelerate the degradation of organic substrates, and improve power generation.     

Regulation of Power Conversion in Fuel Cells

Here we report a regulation about power conversion in fuel ceils. This regulation is expressed as that to-tal power produced by fuel ceils is always proportional to the square of the potential difference between the equilibrium potential and work potential. With this regulation we deduced fuel cell performance equation which can describe the potential vs. the current performance curves, namely, polarization curves of fuel cells with three power source parameters: equilibrium potential E0; internal resistance R; and power conversion coefficient K. The concept of the power conversion coefficient is a new criterion to evaluate and compare the characteristics and capacity of different fuel ceils. The calculated values obtained with this equation agree with practical performance of different types of fuel cells.     

Applications of Nanomaterials in Microbial Fuel Cells: A Review

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are an environmentally friendly technology and a source of renewable energy. It is used to generate electrical energy from organic waste using bacteria, which is an effective technology in wastewater treatment. The anode and the cathode electrodes and proton exchange membranes (PEM) are important components affecting the performance and operation of MFC. Conventional materials used in the manufacture of electrodes and membranes are insufficient to improve the efficiency of MFC. The use of nanomaterials in the manufacture of the anode had a prominent effect in improving the performance in terms of increasing the surface area, increasing the transfer of electrons from the anode to the cathode, biocompatibility, and biofilm formation and improving the oxidation reactions of organic waste using bacteria. The use of nanomaterials in the manufacture of the cathode also showed the improvement of cathode reactions or oxygen reduction reactions (ORR). The PEM has a prominent role in separating the anode and the cathode in the MFC, transferring protons from the anode chamber to the cathode chamber while preventing the transfer of oxygen. Nanomaterials have been used in the manufacture of membrane components, which led to improving the chemical and physical properties of the membranes and increasing the transfer rates of protons, thus improving the performance and efficiency of MFC in generating electrical energy and improving wastewater treatment.     

微生物燃料电池非生物阴极催化剂的研究进展

在微生物燃料电池（MFC）中,以氧为电子受体具有很多优点,但氧阴极还原的反应动力学慢,会造成阴极电势的损失。 因此,提高阴极对氧还原的电催化活性和降低催化剂的价格是MFC非生物阴极催化剂的研究重点之一。 本文综述了近年来MFC中非生物阴极氧还原催化剂的研究进展。 重点讨论了贵金属Pt、过渡金属大环化合物以及金属氧化物催化剂对氧还原的电催化活性。 其中,非贵金属氧化物及过渡金属大环化合物催化剂具有良好的性能,而且价格低廉,有望成为MFC非生物阴极Pt基催化剂的替代催化剂。     

Functional Nanomaterial-Modified Anodes in Microbial Fuel Cells: Advances and Perspectives

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising approach that could utilize microorganisms to oxidize biodegradable pollutants in wastewater and generate electrical power simultaneously. Introducing advanced anode nanomaterials is generally considered as an effective way to enhance MFC performance by increasing bacterial adhesion and facilitating extracellular electron transfer (EET). This review focuses on the key advances of recent anode modification materials, as well as the current understanding of the microbial EET process occurring at the bacteria-electrode interface. Based on the difference in combination mode of the exoelectrogens and nanomaterials, anode surface modification, hybrid biofilm construction and single-bacterial surface modification strategies are elucidated exhaustively. The inherent mechanisms may help to break through the performance output bottleneck of MFCs by rational design of EET-related nanomaterials, and lead to the widespread application of microbial electrochemical systems.     

绿脓杆菌阳极的微生物燃料电池含溶解氧性能研究

本文研究了绿脓杆菌分泌的电子中介体绿脓菌素与电极之间的反应,并探讨了溶解氧的影响. 通过循环伏安曲线、测试电极开路电位等方法,确定绿脓菌素阳极反应是受扩散控制的可逆反应. 菌液的溶解氧浓度在一定范围内（0 ~ 1.6 mg.L^-1）对绿脓菌素和电极之间的反应影响不大. 微生物燃料电池的极化曲线表明,当溶解氧为1.6 mg.L^-1时,微生物燃料电池输出电流下降了7%,对绿脓杆菌阳极的微生物燃料电池影响不大.     

Effect of Temperature on the Catalytic Ability of Electrochemically Active Biofilm as Anode Catalyst in Microbial Fuel Cells

In this study we report the effect of temperature on the catalytic ability of an electrochemically active biofilm based on mixed‐culture to oxidize acetate and found the optimum temperature showing maximal catalytic activity and power output. Electrochemical characterization of biofilm and power output and internal resistance of microbial fuel cell (MFC) have been investigated at different temperatures. When temperature increased from 30 to 45 °C the catalytic ability of biofilms to oxidize acetate increased following the Arrhenius law with apparent activation energy of 44.85 kJ/mol. At temperatures higher than 48 °C, however, the bioelectrocatalytic current decreased. At 53 °C the bacterial metabolism was in inactivation. The optimum working temperature of the biofilm was 45 °C, producing current of 1339 µA cm^?2. This current was almost three times higher than 527 µA cm^?2 at 30 °C. The MFC performance at different temperatures showed consistent temperature dependence to that of a semi‐batch cell, which implies that anode catalytic ability in MFC is the main limit factor for increasing power output. A maximum power output of 1065 mW m^?2 was also observed at 45 °C and it was 1.5 times higher than 764 mW m^?2 at 30 °C. The increased MFC performance from 30 °C to 45 °C is lower in comparison with about three times higher increase in semi‐batch cells. This could be due to other factors such as proton migration rate in membrane of MFC, which can be seen from that the internal resistance value of 121.5 Ω in the MFC at 45 °C was only slightly lower than 177.6 Ω at 30 °C. Also, some other factors such as cell configuration which would limit the power output and can be further optimized. This work contributes to the study of influence from temperature on anodic electrochemically active biofilm activity and their subsequent influence on MFC performance and reports the optimal temperature for biofilm activity based on mixed‐culture.     

石墨烯基杂化材料在微生物燃料电池电极中的应用

微生物燃料电池（MFC）是利用生物催化剂将污水有机物中的化学能直接转化为电能的技术,因其功率密度和能量转化效率低,电极制作成本高,限制了其大规模实际应用。因此如何提高电极的催化性能并降低电极制作成本成为MFC的研究重点方向。由于石墨烯基杂化材料具有良好的导电性和催化特性,因此石墨烯基杂化材料成为在MFC电极应用中的热点之一。本文综述了近年来MFC石墨烯基杂化电极材料的最新研究进展,重点讨论了改性石墨烯电极、金属及非金属/石墨烯杂化电极、金属氧化物/石墨烯杂化电极、聚合物/石墨烯杂化电极和石墨烯凝胶电极的设计思路和制备方法及其催化性能,着重分析了石墨烯基阳极和阴极杂化材料对MFC产电性能的影响。最后对石墨烯基杂化材料在MFC应用中存在的问题及研究前景进行了总结和展望。