Electricity generation using an air-cathode single chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) in the absence of a proton exchange membrane

Hong Liu, Bruce Logan

Research output: Contribution to journalConference articlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

To increase energy output and reduce the cost of MFC, an air-cathode single chamber MFC containing carbon electrodes without proton exchange membrane (PEM) was developed. Power generation from domestic wastewater, glucose, acetate, and butyrate (main by-products of hydrogen fermentation) was examined. The power density was 55-400% higher than that in the MFC containing PEM, reaching 146 mw/sq cm using domestic wastewater, 494 mw/sq cm using glucose, 506 and 305 mw/sq cm using acetate and butyrate, respectively, which were much greater than typically reported for aqueous-cathode MFC. The increase in power output was attributed to the direct oxygen transfer to the carbon cathode and the elimination of overpotential caused by PEM. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 228th ACS National Meeting (Philadelphia, PA 8/22-26/2004).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)ENVR-193
JournalACS National Meeting Book of Abstracts
Volume228
Issue number1
StatePublished - 2004
EventAbstracts of Papers - 228th ACS National Meeting - Philadelphia, PA, United States
Duration: Aug 22 2004Aug 26 2004

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Chemistry
  • General Chemical Engineering

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