Increasing removal of benzene from groundwater using stacked tubular air-cathode microbial fuel cells. (1st September 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Liu, Shu-Hui; Lai, Chi-Yung; Ye, Jhe-Wei; Lin, Chi-Wen
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 194(2018)
• Page Start: 78
• Page End: 84
• Publication Date: 2018-09-01
• Subjects: Benzene removal -- Tubular microbial fuel cell (t-MFC) -- Cathodic aeration -- Stacked configuration -- Groundwater bioremediation; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.05.138
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: This work develops a small-scale microbial fuel cell (MFC) and evaluates their performance in series or in parallel as a tubular MFC (t-MFC) in removing benzene from groundwater and generating electricity. The results indicate that the time required (tr ) for t-MFC to remove all benzene was half of that required by a single MFC. The maximum power density (Pmax ) of the serially-connected t-MFC was 12.7 mW/m 2, a 3.3-fold increase over the single t-MFC. An optimal benzene removal efficiency with a tr of four days was achieved under persistent aeration at the cathode of the t-MFC, and this tr was 1.25–3-fold lower than those obtained under other aeration conditions. Tubular MFCs connected in series had a higher open-circuited voltage (655 mV) and a lower tr, but the Pmax and maximum current density of the parallelly-connected t-MFC were 3.8 and 1.5 times those of the t-MFC with a serial connection. Intermittent aerating of the cathode improved the removal of benzene and the generation of electricity in a t-MFC by providing sufficient levels of oxygen for the reaction to achieve Pmax . The small t-MFC was easily scaled up by stacking MFCs in series mode, with great potential for field-scale application for in situ bioremediation in hydrocarbon-contaminated groundwater. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) in series were easily scaled up for practical purposes. MFC performance was improved by adding coke to the carbon cloth-based cathode. MFCs were easily connected in series or in parallel to optimize MFC performance. Intermittently aerating on a cathode was a cost-effective way to supply oxygen.