The Effect of Physico-chemically Immoblized Methylene Blue and Neutral Red on the Anode of Microbial Fuel Cell

Arseniy L Popov, Giuliano Premier, Jung Rae Kim, Alan Guwy, Sandra Esteves, Richard Dinsdale

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

A fast and cost effective immobilization of electron carriers, methylene blue (MB) and neutral red (NR) by pH shift was proposed to improve bioanodic performance. The adsorption of mediators onto the carbon cloth anode was verified using cyclic voltammogram (CV) and the effect of the immobilized mediators on acclimation, power density, and acetate removal of MFCs was investigated. A peak power density of Pmax(MB) = 11.3 W/m3 was achieved over days 110 ~ 120, as compared to Pmax(Control) = 5.4 W/m3 and Pmax(NR) = 3.1 W/m3 for the treated anode after 15 sequential fed-batch operations. The VFA removal rates however were similar for all MFC systems, ranging from 82 to 87%. It could be suggested that the increase in power density for the MB treated electrode resulted from an enhanced electron transport from exo-electrogenic bacteria. MB may also have a selective effect on the bacterial community during the start-up stage, increasing the voltage production and acetate removal from day 1 to 16. However, MFC with NR treated anode produced an initial voltage under 100 mV, with lower coulombic efficiency (CE). NR exhibited less favourable mediator molecule binding to the electrode surface, when subject to pH driven physico-chemical immobilization
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)361 - 370
Number of pages9
JournalBiotechnology and Bioprocess Engineering
Volume17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 18 Dec 2011

Keywords

  • microbial fuel cell
  • air cathode
  • mediators
  • enhanced electron transport
  • methylene blue
  • neutral red

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