Effect of Organic Concentration in the Anode and Cathode on Bioelectricity Generation and Denitrification in a Single-Cathode Three-Anode Microbial Fuel Cell
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146, Issue 8
Abstract
An innovative single-cathode three-anode microbial fuel cell (SCTA-MFC) was constructed, using sodium acetate as the anode organic substrate and nitrate as the cathode electron acceptor. It was found that in the case of a closed circuit with chemical oxygen demand (COD) in the cathode, higher maximum power density (, ), COD, and nitrate removal efficiency (85.70%, 64.35%) could be obtained. The influence of initial organic concentration of the anode was investigated. When the concentration was about , removal efficiency of COD was 87.20%, maximum coulombic efficiency () in the anode was 3.42%, was , and the nitrate removal efficiency and the in the cathode were 75.52% and 99.50%, respectively. The presence of cathode organics can couple autotrophic and heterotrophic denitrification of SCTA-MFCs, and further enhance denitrification rates. An anode organic concentration of is beneficial to electricity generation of SCTA-MFCs.
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Data Availability Statement
All data, models, and code generated or used during the study appear in the published article.
Acknowledgments
This research was funded by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51578132).
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©2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
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Received: Jan 21, 2020
Accepted: Mar 26, 2020
Published online: Jun 1, 2020
Published in print: Aug 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Nov 1, 2020
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