TY - JOUR
T1 - Applying the electrode potential slope method as a tool to quantitatively evaluate the performance of individual microbial electrolysis cell components
AU - Cario, Benjamin P.
AU - Rossi, Ruggero
AU - Kim, Kyoung Yeol
AU - Logan, Bruce E.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was conducted at the Pennsylvania State University and supported by funds provided by the US Department of Energy (DOE) Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy ( EERE ) Fuel Cell Technologies Office , through a contract from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Project #21263.
Funding Information:
This work was conducted at the Pennsylvania State University and supported by funds provided by the US Department of Energy (DOE)Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE)Fuel Cell Technologies Office, through a contract from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Project #21263.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2019 Elsevier Ltd
PY - 2019/9
Y1 - 2019/9
N2 - Improving the design of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs)requires better identification of the specific factors that limit performance. The contributions of the electrodes, solution, and membrane to internal resistance were quantified here using the newly-developed electrode potential slope (EPS)method. The largest portion of total internal resistance (120 ± 0 mΩ m2)was associated with the carbon felt anode (71 ± 5 mΩ m2, 59% of total), likely due to substrate and ion mass transfer limitations arising from stagnant fluid conditions and placement of the electrode against the anion exchange membrane. The anode resistance was followed by the solution (25 mΩ m2)and cathode (18 ± 2 mΩ m2)resistances, and a negligible membrane resistance. Wide adoption and application of the EPS method will enable direct comparison between the performance of the components of MECs with different solution characteristics, electrode size and spacing, reactor architecture, and operating conditions.
AB - Improving the design of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs)requires better identification of the specific factors that limit performance. The contributions of the electrodes, solution, and membrane to internal resistance were quantified here using the newly-developed electrode potential slope (EPS)method. The largest portion of total internal resistance (120 ± 0 mΩ m2)was associated with the carbon felt anode (71 ± 5 mΩ m2, 59% of total), likely due to substrate and ion mass transfer limitations arising from stagnant fluid conditions and placement of the electrode against the anion exchange membrane. The anode resistance was followed by the solution (25 mΩ m2)and cathode (18 ± 2 mΩ m2)resistances, and a negligible membrane resistance. Wide adoption and application of the EPS method will enable direct comparison between the performance of the components of MECs with different solution characteristics, electrode size and spacing, reactor architecture, and operating conditions.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121418
DO - 10.1016/j.biortech.2019.121418
M3 - Article
C2 - 31078815
AN - SCOPUS:85065239178
SN - 0960-8524
VL - 287
JO - Bioresource technology
JF - Bioresource technology
M1 - 121418
ER -
