In situ biofilm removal from air cathodes in microbial fuel cells treating domestic wastewater

Ruggero Rossi; Wulin Yang; Emily Zikmund; Deepak Pant; Bruce E. Logan

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.008

In situ biofilm removal from air cathodes in microbial fuel cells treating domestic wastewater

Ruggero Rossi, Wulin Yang, Emily Zikmund, Deepak Pant, Bruce E. Logan

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

One challenge in using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for wastewater treatment is the reduction in performance over time due to cathode fouling. An in-situ technique was developed to clean air cathodes using magnets on either side of the electrode, with the air-side magnet moved to clean the water-side magnet by scraping off the biofilm. The power output of the magnet-cleaned cathodes after one month of operation was 132 ± 7 mW m^–2, which was 42% higher than the controls with no magnet (93 ± 4 mW m^–2) (no separator, NS), and 110% higher (116 ± 4 mW m^–2) than controls with separators (Sp, 55 ± 7 mW m^–2). Cleaning cathodes using magnets reduced the biofilm by 75% (NS) and 28% (Sp). The in-situ cleaning technique thus improved the performance of the MFC over time by reducing biofouling due to biofilm formation on the air cathodes.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	200-206
Number of pages	7
Journal	Bioresource technology
Volume	265
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.008
State	Published - Oct 2018

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

Bioengineering
Environmental Engineering
Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Waste Management and Disposal

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10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.008

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title = "In situ biofilm removal from air cathodes in microbial fuel cells treating domestic wastewater",

abstract = "One challenge in using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for wastewater treatment is the reduction in performance over time due to cathode fouling. An in-situ technique was developed to clean air cathodes using magnets on either side of the electrode, with the air-side magnet moved to clean the water-side magnet by scraping off the biofilm. The power output of the magnet-cleaned cathodes after one month of operation was 132 ± 7 mW m–2, which was 42% higher than the controls with no magnet (93 ± 4 mW m–2) (no separator, NS), and 110% higher (116 ± 4 mW m–2) than controls with separators (Sp, 55 ± 7 mW m–2). Cleaning cathodes using magnets reduced the biofilm by 75% (NS) and 28% (Sp). The in-situ cleaning technique thus improved the performance of the MFC over time by reducing biofouling due to biofilm formation on the air cathodes.",

author = "Ruggero Rossi and Wulin Yang and Emily Zikmund and Deepak Pant and Logan, {Bruce E.}",

note = "Funding Information: This research was funded by the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program via cooperative research agreement W9132T-16-2-0014 with the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2018 Elsevier Ltd",

year = "2018",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.008",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "265",

pages = "200--206",

journal = "Agricultural Wastes",

issn = "0960-8524",

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T1 - In situ biofilm removal from air cathodes in microbial fuel cells treating domestic wastewater

AU - Rossi, Ruggero

AU - Yang, Wulin

AU - Zikmund, Emily

AU - Pant, Deepak

AU - Logan, Bruce E.

N1 - Funding Information: This research was funded by the Environmental Security Technology Certification Program via cooperative research agreement W9132T-16-2-0014 with the US Army Engineer Research and Development Center. Publisher Copyright: © 2018 Elsevier Ltd

PY - 2018/10

Y1 - 2018/10

N2 - One challenge in using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for wastewater treatment is the reduction in performance over time due to cathode fouling. An in-situ technique was developed to clean air cathodes using magnets on either side of the electrode, with the air-side magnet moved to clean the water-side magnet by scraping off the biofilm. The power output of the magnet-cleaned cathodes after one month of operation was 132 ± 7 mW m–2, which was 42% higher than the controls with no magnet (93 ± 4 mW m–2) (no separator, NS), and 110% higher (116 ± 4 mW m–2) than controls with separators (Sp, 55 ± 7 mW m–2). Cleaning cathodes using magnets reduced the biofilm by 75% (NS) and 28% (Sp). The in-situ cleaning technique thus improved the performance of the MFC over time by reducing biofouling due to biofilm formation on the air cathodes.

AB - One challenge in using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for wastewater treatment is the reduction in performance over time due to cathode fouling. An in-situ technique was developed to clean air cathodes using magnets on either side of the electrode, with the air-side magnet moved to clean the water-side magnet by scraping off the biofilm. The power output of the magnet-cleaned cathodes after one month of operation was 132 ± 7 mW m–2, which was 42% higher than the controls with no magnet (93 ± 4 mW m–2) (no separator, NS), and 110% higher (116 ± 4 mW m–2) than controls with separators (Sp, 55 ± 7 mW m–2). Cleaning cathodes using magnets reduced the biofilm by 75% (NS) and 28% (Sp). The in-situ cleaning technique thus improved the performance of the MFC over time by reducing biofouling due to biofilm formation on the air cathodes.

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SP - 200

EP - 206

JO - Agricultural Wastes

JF - Agricultural Wastes

ER -

In situ biofilm removal from air cathodes in microbial fuel cells treating domestic wastewater

Abstract

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

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