Fabrication and Performance of a Microbial Fuel Cell: Utilization of Modified Nafion Membrane with Carbon Powder as Separator and Bio-Anode

Mustapha Abdeldjabar Charef; Hakima Kebaili; Mostefa Kameche; Christophe Innocent

doi:10.22146/ijc.52728

Fabrication and Performance of a Microbial Fuel Cell: Utilization of Modified Nafion Membrane with Carbon Powder as Separator and Bio-Anode

https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.52728

Mustapha Abdeldjabar Charef^(1*), Hakima Kebaili⁽²⁾, Mostefa Kameche⁽³⁾, Christophe Innocent⁽⁴⁾

(1) Laboratoryof Physico-Chemistry of Materials, Catalysis, and Environment, University of Sciences and Technology of Oran-Mohammed-Boudiaf, M’Nouar, BP 1505, Oran, Algeria
(2) University HassibaBenbouali of Chlef, B.P. 78C, Ouled Fares Chlef 02180, Algeria
(3) University HassibaBenbouali of Chlef, B.P. 78C, Ouled Fares Chlef 02180, Algeria
(4) European Institute of Membranes, University of Montpellier, CC 047, Place Eugene Battalion, 34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
(*) Corresponding Author

Abstract

A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) was conceived by using garden soil as a source to culture. It was then utilized as a bio-catalyst to decompose waste organic matter, reduce pollution from the soil, and produce energies. The MFC was composed of a bio-anode inoculated with a mixture of garden compost leachate and an abiotic stainless steel cathode. Besides, the bio-anode consisted of a Nafion membrane modified with carbon. The microorganisms agglomerated under polarization and formed electroactive bio-film onto bio-anode. In the preliminary test of MFC, potassium hexacyanoferrate has been utilized as catholyte, to enhance the reduction of proton and electrons resulting in a higher voltage. However, this electrolyte is toxic and oxidized rapidly, thus substituted by the hydrochloric acid. The results showed that the MFC with modified Nafion, gave relatively high current-density 379 mA/m² in two days, whereas the conventional biofuel cell without modification attained the current-density 292 mA/m² in four days. Nevertheless, both cells yielded almost the same current density of 20 mA/m² during 60 days. Although it has been used for a long time, the modified Nafion has not been corroded and preserved its physicochemical properties.

Keywords

microbial fuel cell; garden soil leachate; Nafion117 membrane; carbon powder; surface modification; bioenergy; electrochemical characterization

Full Text:

Full Text PDF

References

[1] Cheng, S., Xing, D., Call, D.F., and Logan, B.E., 2009, Direct biological conversion of electrical current into methane by electro methanogenesis, Environ. Sci. Technol., 43, 3953–3958.

[2] Logan, B.E., 2009, Exoelectrogenic bacteria that power microbial fuel cells, Nat. Rev. Microbiol., 7 (5), 375–381.

[3] Kato, S., 2016, Microbial extracellular electron transfer and its relevance to iron corrosion, Microb. Biotechnol., 9 (2), 141–148.

[4] Djellali, M., Kameche, M., Kebaili, H., Bohent, M.M., and Benhamou, A., 2019, Synthesis of nickel-based layered double hydroxide (LDH) and their adsorption on carbon felt fibers: Application as low-cost cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cell (MFC), Environ. Technol., 0 (0), 1–13.

[5] Kebaili, H., Kameche, M., Innocent, C., Benayyad, A., Kosimaningrum, W.E., and Sahraoui, T., 2019, Scratching and transplanting of electro-active biofilm in fruit peeling leachate by ultrasound: Re-inoculation in new microbial fuel cell for enhancement of bio-energy production and organic matter detection, Biotechnol. Lett., 42 (6), 965–978.

[6] Zhang, X., Cheng, S., Liang, P., Huang, X., and Logan, B.E., 2011, Scalable air cathode microbial fuel cells using glass fiber separators, plastic mesh supporters, and graphite fiber brush anodes, Bioresour. Technol., 102 (1), 372–375.

[7] Cheng, S., Liu, H., and Logan, B.E., 2006, Increased performance of single-chamber microbial fuel cells using an improved cathode structure, Electrochem. Commun., 8 (3), 489–494.

[8] Ouis, M., Kameche, M., Innocent, C., Charef, M., and Kebaili, H., 2018, Electro-polymerization of pyrrole on graphite electrode: Enhancement of electron transfer in bioanode of microbial fuel cell, Polym. Bull., 75 (2), 669–684.

[9] Niessen, J., Schröder, U., Harnisch, F., and Scholz, F., 2005, Gaining electricity from in situ oxidation of hydrogen produced by fermentative cellulose degradation, Lett. Appl. Microbiol., 41 (3), 286–290.

[10] Gil, G.C., Chang, I.S., Kim, B.H., Kim, M., Jang, J.K., Park, H.S., and Kim, H.J., 2003, Operational parameters affecting the performance of a mediator-less microbial fuel cell, Biosens. Bioelectron., 18 (4), 327–334.

[11] Heilmann, J., and Logan, B.E., 2006, Production of electricity from proteins using a microbial fuel cell, Water Environ. Res., 78 (5), 531–537.

[12] Zhang, B.G., Zhou, S.G., Zhao, H.Z., Shi, C.H., Kong, L.C., Sun, J.J., Yang, Y., and Ni, J.R., 2010, Factors affecting the performance of microbial fuel cells for sulfide and vanadium (V) treatment, Bioprocess. Biosyst. Eng., 33 (2), 187–194.

[13] Kondaveeti, S., Choi, K.S., Kakarla, R., and Min, B., 2014, Microalgae Scenedesmus obliquus as renewable biomass feedstock for electricity generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), Front. Environ. Sci. Eng., 8 (5), 784–791.

[14] Cercado-Quezada, B., Delia, M.L., and Bergel, A., 2010, Treatment of dairy wastes with a microbial anode formed from garden compost, J. Appl. Electrochem., 40 (2), 225–232.

[15] Chaudhuri, S.K., and Lovley, D.R., 2003, Electricity generation by direct oxidation of glucose in mediatorless microbial fuel cells, Nat. Biotechnol., 21 (10), 1229–1232.

[16] Cheng, S., Liu, H., and Logan, B.E., 2006, Increased performance of single-chamber microbial fuel cells using an improved cathode structure, Electrochem. Commun., 8 (3), 489–494.

[17] Zhu, X., and Ni, J., 2009, Simultaneous processes of electricity generation and p-nitrophenol degradation in a microbial fuel cell, Electrochem. Commun., 11 (20, 274–277.

[18] Read, S.T., Dutta, P., Bond, P.L., Keller, J., and Rabaey, K., 2010, Initial development and structure of biofilms on microbial fuel cell anodes, BMC Microbiol., 10 (1), 98.

[19] Zerrouki, A., Kameche, M., Kebaili, H., Boukoussa, I.S., Flitti, M.A., Ilikti, H., and Innocent, C., 2018, An investigation on polymer ion exchange membranes used as separators in low energy microbial fuel cells, Polym. Bull., 75 (11), 4947–4965.

[20] Hamani, H., Bouamrane, R., Kameche, M., Innocent, C, and Derriche, Z., 2013, Transport number and current voltage of a cation exchange membrane equilibrated in aqueous and organic solutions, Phys. Chem. Liq., 51 (3), 265–280.

[21] Choi, J.H., Lee, H.J., and Moon, S.H., 2001, Effects of electrolytes on the transport phenomena in a cation-exchange membrane, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 238 (1), 188–195.

[22] Lachachi, Z., Kameche, M., Bendjeda, S., Meddah, K., Hamani, H., Boumediene, H., and Innocent, C., 2016, Study of proton leakage at interface of anion exchange membrane in solutions of acids, salts and solvents using current-voltage characteristics, Chem. Eng. Commun., 203 (4), 566–574.

[23] Choi, Y.J., Park, J.M., Yeon, K.H., and Moon, S.H., 2005, Determination of the limiting current density in electrodialysis desalination as an empirical function of linear velocity, Desalination, 190 (1-3), 43–50.

[24] Choi, Y.J., Park, J.M., Yeon, K.H., and Moon, S.H., 2002, Direct measurement of concentration distribution within the boundary layer of an ion-exchange membrane, J. Colloid Interface Sci., 251 (2), 311–317.

[25] Grosse, W., Champavert, J., Gambhir, S., Wallace, G.G., and Moulton, S.E., 2013, Aqueous dispersions of reduced graphene oxide and multi wall carbon nanotubes for enhanced glucose oxidase bioelectrode performance, Carbon, 61, 467–475.

[26] Rousseau, R., Délia, M.L., and Bergel, A., 2014, A theoretical model of transient cyclic voltammetry for electroactive biofilms, Energy Environ. Sci., 7 (3), 1079–1094.

[27] Varanasi, J.L., Nayak, A.K., Sohn, Y., Pradhan, D., and Das, D., 2016, Improvement of power generation of microbial fuel cell by integrating tungsten oxide electrocatalyst with pure or mixed culture biocatalysts, Electrochim. Acta, 199, 154–163.

[28] Ouitrakul, S., Sriyudthsak, M., Charojrochkul, S., and Kakizono, T., 2007, Impedance analysis of bio-fuel cell electrodes, Biosens. Bioelectron., 23 (5), 721–727.

[29] Aaron, D., Tsouris, C., Hamilton, C.Y., and Borole, A.P., 2010, Assessment of the effects of flow rate and ionic strength on the performance of an air-cathode microbial fuel cell using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Energies, 3 (4), 592–606.

[30] Ramasamy, R.P., Gadhamshetty, V., Nadeau, L.J., and Johnson, G.R. 2009, Impedance spectroscopy as a tool for non‐intrusive detection of extracellular mediators in microbial fuel cells, Biotechnol. Bioeng., 104 (5), 882–891.

[31] Logan, B.E., Hamelers, B., Rozendal, R., Schröder, U., Keller, J., Freguiac, S., Aelterman, P., Verstraete, W., and Rabaey, K., 2006, Microbial fuel cells: Methodology and technology, Environ. Sci. Technol., 40 (17), 5181–5192.

[32] Zhang, S., You, J., Kennes, C., Chang, Z., Ye, J., Chen, D., Chen, J., and Wang, L., 2018, Current advances of VOCs degradation by bioelectrochemical systems: A review, Chem. Eng. J., 334, 2625–2637.

[33] Sanjuan, B., Millot, R., Innocent, C., Dezayes, C., Scheiber, J., and Brach, M., 2016, Major geochemical characteristics of geothermal brines from the Upper Rhine Graben granitic basement with constraints on temperature and circulation, Chem. Geol., 428, 27–47.

[34] Xu, F., Kameche, M., and Innocent, C., 2013, Transport of ions and solvent through a Nafion membrane modified with polypyrrole, J. Membr. Sep. Technol., 1 (2), 108–116.

[35] Kebaili, H., Kameche, M., Innocent, C., Ziane, F.Z., Sabeur, S.A., Sahraoui, T., Ouis, M., Zerrouki, A., and Charef, M.A., 2021, Treatment of fruit waste leachate using microbial fuel cell: Preservation of agricultural environment, Acta Ecol. Sin., 41 (2), 97–105.

[36] Djellali, M., Kameche, M., Kebaili, H., Benhamou, A., Bouhent, M., and Innocent, C., 2020, “Utilization of double-layered hydroxides for enhancement of dissolved oxygen reduction in microbial fuel cell: An approach for the evaluation of coulomb efficiency” in ICREEC 2019, Eds. Belasri, A., and Beldjilali, S., Springer Proceedings in Energy, Springer, Singapore, 239–244.

[37] Zerrouki, A., Kameche, M., Kebaili, H., Amer, A.A., and Innocent, C., 2020, “Electro-catalytic electrodes and ionic exchange membranes in microbial fuel cell” in ICREEC 2019, Eds. Belasri, A., and Beldjilali, S., Springer Proceedings in Energy, Springer, Singapore, 211–217.

[38] Kebaili, H., Kameche, M., Innocent, C., Kosimaningrum, W.E., and Sahraoui, T., 2020, “Growth of electroactive biofilm onto carbon felt bioanode in microbial fuel cell: Enhancement of bioenergy production” in ICREEC 2019, Eds. Belasri, A., and Beldjilali, S., Springer Proceedings in Energy, Springer, Singapore, 205–210.

[39] Benayyad, A., Kameche, M., Kebaili, H., and Innocent, C., 2021, “Design of a microbial fuel cell used as a biosensor of pollution emitted by oxidized organic matter” in Advances in Renewable Hydrogen and Other Sustainable Energy Carriers, Eds. Khelaff, A., Springer Proceedings in Energy, Springer, Singapore, 279–284.

[40] Ci, J., Cao, C., Kuga, S., Shen, J., Wu, M., and Huang, Y., 2017, Improved performance of microbial fuel cell using esterified Corncob cellulose nanofibers to fabricate air-cathode gas diffusion layer, ACS Sustainable Chem. Eng., 5 (11), 9614–9618.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.22146/ijc.52728