A shorter start-up time and highly negative anode potentials are needed to improve single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Using a glass fiber separator reduced the start-up time from 10d to 8d at 20°C, and from 4d to 2d at 30°C, and enhanced coulombic efficiency (CE) from <60% to 89% (20°C) and 87% (30°C). Separators also reduced anode potentials by 20-190mV, charge transfer re...

H as this happened to you? You have a layover between flights, would like to use your computer and cell phone, but both sets of batteries are drained and the nearby electrical outlets are being used. What if you could instead recharge your electronic devices with a little sugar from the nearby coffee stand? With help from electricity-producing microorganisms, known as electricigens, some day yo...

This was the first attempt to investigate bioelectricity output based on a solid–liquid cooperation in microbial fuel cell (MFC) treatment of oil-based drill sludge by adjusting stirring rate and supplementing cuttings (OBDCs).

Several anaerobic metal-reducing bacteria have been shown to be able to donate electrons directly to an electrode. This property is of great interest for microbial fuel cell development. To date, microbial fuel cell design requires avoiding O(2) diffusion from the cathodic compartment to the sensitive anodic compartment. Here, we show that Acidiphilium sp. strain 3.2 Sup 5 cells that were isola...

A sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) is a type of microbial fuel cell (MFC) that has recently attracted significantly attentions due to its unique property of removing organic and inorganic compounds from sediments. In this study the experiments were carried out in a dual-chamber SMFC with external resistances 30 kΩ-50 Ω. The SMFC was produced power about 630 mV with maximum power density 40 m...

Efficient treatment of domestic wastewater under continuous flow conditions using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) requires hydraulic retention times (HRTs) that are similar to or less than those of conventional methods such as activated sludge. Two MFCs in series were compared at theoretical HRTs of 8.8, 4.4 and 2.2 h using two different brush-electrode MFC configurations: a full brush evenly space...

Exoelectrogenic microorganisms in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) compete with other microorganisms for substrate. In order to understand how this affects removal rates, current generation, and coulombic efficiencies (CEs), substrate removal rates were compared in MFCs fed a single, readily biodegradable compound (acetate) or domestic wastewater (WW). Removal rates based on initial test conditions ...

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology offers sustainable solutions for distributed power systems and energy positive wastewater treatment, but the generation of practically usable power from MFCs remains a major challenge for system scale up and application. Commonly used external resistors will not harvest any usable energy, so energy-harvesting circuits are needed for real world applicatio...

This study constructed a microbial fuel cell (MFC) using Fe(II)-EDTA catalyzed persulfate as the cathode solutions to decolorize Orange G (OG) and harvest electricity simultaneously. Chelated Fe(2+) could activate persulfate to generate sulfate free radicals (SO(4)(-)) which with high oxidation potential (E(0)=2.6 V) can degrade azo dyes. The influence of some important factors such as pH value...

This study investigated the mechanism and key factors influencing concurrent phosphorus (P) recovery and energy generation in microbial fuel cells (MFC) during wastewater treatment. Using a mediator-less dual chamber microbial fuel cell operated for 120 days; P was shown to precipitate as struvite when ammonium and magnesium chloride solutions were added to the cathode chamber. Monitoring data ...