Application of Nano-Electrode Platinum (Pt) and Nano-Wire Titanium (Ti) for Increasing Electrical Energy Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells of Synthetic Wastewater with Carbon Source (Acetate)

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

Graduate Faculty of Environment, Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Tehran, Iran

Abstract

The microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a kind of systems through which the anaerobic bacteria
along with the oxidation of simple or complicated organic matter in the wastewater can generate the electric
power. This is a modern approach used in generation of the clean and renewable energy. In this research, two pilot laboratories of double-chamber microbial fuel cells were made. One of them contained platinum electrode and simple nano-wire Titanium and the other had nano-electrode Platinum and nano-wire with equal volume of 1 liter. They were launched in 4 Hydraulic Retention Time (2.5, 3.5, 4.5 and 5.5 hrs.) and increased in 4 steps of organic loading rate with synthetic wastewater with carbon source (acetate) and temperature (20±5°C). The voltage and electric current was measured by means of digital multimetre. The performance of the two reactors in generation of electricity was investigated based on the polarization curve. Maximum voltage and current output were, respectively, 1425 mV and 13.1 mA, and the maximum power density and current density were, respectively 78 mW/m2 and 67.3 mA/m2 and columbic efficiency were achieved in 34.6% in mreactor with nano-electrode Platinum and nano-wire Titanium (in HRT 4.5 hr and external resistance was 100Ω). In addition, the maximum removal rate of COD in organic loading rate 3.99 Kg COD/m3.day is equal to 98.28% for nano-electric and nano-wire and 72.5% for simple electrode and wire.

Keywords

International Journal of Environmental Research
Volume 8, Issue 2 - Serial Number 2
April 2014
Pages 453-460

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