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Experimental Investing of Different Anodic Patterns on Electricity Generation Efficiency in Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)

Makvandi, Kasra | 2012

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  1. Type of Document: M.Sc. Thesis
  2. Language: Farsi
  3. Document No: 43898 (06)
  4. University: Sharif University of Technology
  5. Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
  6. Advisor(s): Kariminia, Hamid Reza; Yaghmaei, Soheyla
  7. Abstract:
  8. A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioreactor that utilizes chemical energy in the chemical bonds of organic compounds to electrical energy production through catalytic reactions of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. In this study, the performance of a dual chamber, mediator-less anode, graphite electrodes MFC employing mixed consortia as anodic inoculums and using a combination of formalin and glucose as substrate was investigated. Different MFCs with different concentration of formalin and fixed concentration of glucose was operated to elucidate the difference in power generation and removal of formalin as an industrial pollutant under similar operating conditions [ambient pressure; room temperature 30+2 C; acidophilic microenvironment (pH 6)]. The experimental data demonstrated the feasibility of in situ bioelectricity generation along with wastewater treatment. With respect to different concentrations of glucose and formalin. The catalytic reaction was performed by mixed culture of bacteria, which was adapted to formalin in adaption period. In a period of 408 hr, constant electrical power was produced and the COD removal rate was 84%, 90%, 85% & 81% for initial COD values of 2000 mg/l, 1760 mg/l, 1776 mg/l & 1872 mg/l respectively. In order to investigate the effect of formalin initial concentration as a substrate with respect to formalin effect as a disinfectant and toxic characteristics, 10 ppm, 25 ppm and 50 ppm of formalin concentration was added to 1000 ppm glucose solution in a MFC with the retention time of 408 hr and various parameters such as output power, current and power generation steadiness was compared with each other and prove that the initial values of formalin have different effects. Additionally, for investing the possible upper limit of formalin, experiments were performed and a concentration of 100 ppm of formalin was reported as a maximum possible concentration due to the above-mentioned conditions. With reference to contaminant removal rate and produced power, one can state that from environmental point of view, utilizing MFC in formalin removal in a promising feature, however, from energy point of view, it needs more investigation and optimization
  9. Keywords:
  10. Microbial Fuel Cell ; Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD)Removal Ratio ; Biomass ; Current Density ; Power Density ; Substrate

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