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Experimental Studies on Petroleum Hydrocarbons Biodegradation in a Microbial Fuel Cell

Foad Marashi, Kamran | 2011

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 43372 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Kariminia, Hamid Reza
  7. Abstract:
  8. Environmental issues are more and more considered because of increasing environmental pollution along the industrial growth. In recent years Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) have attracted attention of many researchers as a renewable source of clean energy. In this research, wastewaters of purified terephthalic acid (PTA) plant and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plant were examined in MFC.
    Voltage generation in the PTA MFC cycle indicated two steady phases. Produced power was 31.8 mW/m2 (normalized per cathode area) and calculated Coulombic efficiency was 2.05 % for COD removal of 74% during 21 days. Concentration changes of each pollutant indicated that acetic acid (AA) and benzoic acid (BA) were consumed at the first place and then terephthalic acid (TA) and p-toluic acid (p-Tol) were removed. Phthalic acid (PA) was removed independently witha constant or zero-order removal rate. Increased power was observed when higher feed concentrations were used. MFC performance at different pH values proved that more power production can be achieved under alkaline conditions. Cyclic voltammetry results revealed that electron transfer occures by mediators which are produced by bacteria. Examination of PET wastewater for electricity production resulted in themaximum power density of 1.13 mW/m2 and Coulombic efficiency of 2.56 % for the COD removal of 75%. Comparison of three different structures including single chamber, two chamber–nafion membrane and two chamber-earthen pot, indicated that the single chamber MFC has a significant superiority in energy production. Power output from earthen pot MFC was more than nafion membrane MFC. This shows that earthen pot MFC is apotential substitute to expensive membranes.

  9. Keywords:
  10. Microbial Fuel Cell ; Bioelectricity Generation ; Polyethylen Therephthalate Wastewater ; Purified Terephthalic Acid Wastewater ; Petrochemical Wastewater

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