Bio-energy generation in an affordable, single-chamber microbial fuel cell integrated with adsorption hybrid system: effects of temperature and comparison study

• Main Authors: Pei-Fang, Tee, Mohammad Omar, bin Abdullah, Tan, Ivy A. W., Mohamed Afizal, bin Mohamed Amin, Nolasco-Hipólito, Cirilo, Kopli, bin Bujang
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor and Francis Ltd. 2018
• Subjects: TP Chemical technology
• Online Access: http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/20182/1/Bio-energy%20.pdf; http://ir.unimas.my/id/eprint/20182/; https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85019096306&doi=10.1080%2f09593330.2017.1320433&partnerID=40&md5=a09d11d9edb632052428b71f72156af6
• Institution: Universiti Malaysia Sarawak

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) integrated with adsorption system (MFC-AHS) is tested under various operating temperatures with palm oil mill effluent as the substrate. The optimum operating temperature for such system is found to be at ∼35°C with current, power density, internal resistance (Rin), Coulombic efficiency (CE) and maximum chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 2.51 ± 0.2 mA, 74 ± 6 mW m−3, 25.4 Ω, 10.65 ± 0.5% and 93.57 ± 1.2%, respectively. Maximum current density increases linearly with temperature at a rate of 0.1772 mA m−2 °C−1, whereas maximum power density was in a polynomial function. The temperature coefficient (Q10) is found to be 1.20 between 15°C and 35°C. Present studies have demonstrated better CE performance when compared to other MFC-AHSs. Generally, MFC-AHS has demonstrated higher COD removals when compared to standalone MFC regardless of operating temperatures. Abbreviations: ACFF: activated carbon fiber felt; APHA: American Public Health Association; CE: Coulombic efficiency; COD: chemical oxygen demand; ECG: electrocardiogram; GAC: granular activated carbon; GFB: graphite fiber brush; MFC: microbial fuel cell; MFC-AHS: microbial fuel cell integrated with adsorption hybrid system; MFC-GG: microbial fuel cell integrated with graphite granules; POME: palm oil mill effluent; PTFE: polytetrafluoroethylene; SEM: scanning electron microscope. © 2017 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.