Abstract
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising anaerobic technology but they are limited by the high cost of the catalyst used at the cathode (typically platinum). in this study, we designed a novel type of two-chambered MFC wherein an autoheterotrophic denitrifying biofilm replaced the costly catalyst on the cathode surface. Micro-organisms performed denitrification by using electrons supplied by bacteria oxidizing domestic wastewater and acetate as substrates in the anode chamber. This two-chambered MFC equìpped with a biocathode generated during more than 1.5 month up to 9.4mWm-2 of anode surface or 0.19Wm-3 of anode chamber volume, while removing over 65% of COD, 84% of total nitrogen and nearly 30% of suspended solids with domestic wastewater as a substrate, and nearly 95% of acetate in the subsequent experiments.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 881-885 |
Number of pages | 5 |
Journal | Water Science and Technology |
Volume | 58 |
Issue number | 4 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2008 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Anaerobic digestion
- Biocathode
- Denitrification
- Microbial fuel cell
- Wastewater treatment
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Environmental Engineering
- Water Science and Technology