Technical Papers
Jun 1, 2020

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 (PDM, 642.51  mW·m3), 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 600  mg·L1, removal efficiency of COD was 87.20%, maximum coulombic efficiency (CEM) in the anode was 3.42%, PDM was 795.70  mW·m3, and the nitrate removal efficiency and the CEM 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 600  mg·L1 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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Go to Journal of Environmental Engineering
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 146Issue 8August 2020

History

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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Shan Huang, Ph.D. [email protected]
School of Energy and Environment, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China. Email: [email protected]
Lecturer, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China. Email: [email protected]
Guangcan Zhu [email protected]
Professor, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China (corresponding author). Email: [email protected]
Postgraduate Student, School of Energy and Environment, Southeast Univ., Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China; Jiangsu Institute of Urban Planning and Design, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, PR China. Email: [email protected]

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