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Recent microbial fuel cell (MFC) research frequently addresses matters associated with scale and deployability. Modularisation is often needed to reduce ohmic losses with increasing volume. Series/parallel is then often an obvious strategy to enhance power quality during operation, to make best use of generated electricity. Hence, voltage reversal resulting from power and voltage mismatch between cells become virtually unavoidable. Control MFC voltages could be used to stabilise MFC stacks. Here, nonlinear MFCs are controlled using simple gain scheduled Proportional + Integral actions. Parsimonious control may be necessary for implementation in MFC arrays, so minimising costs. Controller parameterisation used several linearised models over the dynamic operating range of the MFCs. Controller gains were then scheduled according to the operating conditions. A digital potentiometer was used to actuate the control, varying the current sourced from the MFC. The results show that the controller was able to control MFC voltages, rejecting the disturbances. It was shown that the controller was transferable between MFCs with different power performances. This study demonstrates that the control of MFCs can be achieved with relatively simple digital approaches, plausibly implementable using low cost microcontrollers, and likely to be useful in the effective deployment of MFCs in large scale arrays. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of acetate and butyrate enrichment on biofilm structure for enhanced electricity and hydrogen production was investigated using bioelectrochemical systems (BES). Two reactors were enriched for 9 weeks using 20 mM L −1 acetate (AC) and butyrate (BU) in microbial fuel cell mode before transfer into MECs. Acetate and butyrate (20, 10 and 5 mM L −1 ) substrates were sequentially used as feedstocks for the AC and BU acclimated reactors. Both BU and AC reactors gave initial hydrogen production rates of 200 ± 50 cm 3 STP /L anode /day with a H 2 yield of 0.585 ± 0.085 mol mol −1 but when the substrates were switched, the BU (MEC) hydrogen production rate increased to 249 ± 3.0 cm 3 STP /L anode /day and the AC (MEC) decreased to 0 cm 3 STP /L anode /day. It was demonstrated that the amount of methane produced by MEC (BU) was 58 ± 5% lower than that produced by MEC (AC). These results show that butyrate fed BES on an equivalent molar basis, improved MEC bioanodic performance and demonstrated the potential to improve overall performance of an integrated hydrogen fermentation and BES system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Anodic helical design and flow characteristics influence MFC performance. [•] High shear rates promote mixing and COD removal. [•] Enrichment under shear conditions promotes biofilm development within the anode. [•] Improved performance follows transition from laminar to turbulent flow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simultaneous removal of organic and zinc contamination in parallel effluent streams using a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) would deliver a means of reducing environmental pollution whilst also recovering energy. A Microbial Fuel Cell system has been integrated with Supported Liquid Membrane (SLM) technology to simultaneously treat organic- and heavy metal containing wastewaters. The MFC anode was fed with synthetic wastewater containing 10 mM acetate, the MFC cathode chambers were fed with 400 mg L−1 Zn2+ and this then acted as a feed phase for SLM extraction. The MFC/SLM combination produces a synergistic effect which enhances the power performance of the MFC significantly; 0.233 mW compared to 0.094 mW in the control. It is shown that the 165 ± 7 mV difference between the MFC/SLM system and the MFC control is attributable to the lower cathode pH in the integrated system experiment, the consequent lower activation overpotential and higher oxygen reduction potential. The change in the substrate removal efficiency and Coulombic Efficiency (CE) compared to controls is small. Apart from the electrolyte conductivity, the conductivities of the bipolar and liquid membrane were also found to increase during operation. The diffusion coefficient of Zn2+ through the liquid membrane in the MFC/SLM (4.26*10−10 m2 s−1) is comparable to the SLM control (5.41*10−10 m2 s−1). The system demonstrates that within 72 h, 93 ± 4% of the zinc ions are removed from the feed phase, hence the Zn2+ removal rate is not significantly affected and is comparable to the SLM control (96 ± 1%), while MFC power output is significantly increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operational temperature of microbial fuel cell reactors influences biofilm development, and this has an impact on anodic biocatalytic activity. In this study, we compared three microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactors acclimated at 10°C, 20°C and 35°C to investigate the effect on biomass development, methanogenesis and electrogenic activity over time. The start-up time was inversely influenced by temperature, but the amount of biomass accumulation increased with increased temperatures, the 10°C, 20°C and 35°C acclimated biofilms resulted in 0.57, 0.82 and 5.43 g biomass (volatile suspended solids) per litre respectively at 56 weeks of operation. Biofilm build-up on the 35°C anode was further demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy, which showed large aggregations of biomass accumulating on the anode when compared to 10°C and 20°C biofilms. Biomass accumulation had a direct impact on biocatalytic performance, with the maximum power at 35°C after 60 weeks of operation being 2.14 W m and power densities for the 10°C and 20°C reactors being and 4.29 W m. Methanogenic activity was also shown to be higher at 35°C, with a rate of 10.1 mmol CH biofilm per gram of volatile suspended solid (VSS) per day, compared to 0.28 mmol CH per gram of VSS per day produced at 20°C. These results demonstrate that higher MFC operating temperatures could be detrimental to the biocatalytic performance of electrochemically active bacteria in anodic biofilms due to biomass accumulation with enhanced development of non-electrogenic communities (e.g. methanogens and fermenters), meaning that, over time, psychro- or mesophilic operation can have beneficial effects for the development of electrogenically active populations in the reactor. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrogenic biofilm and the bio-electrode interface are the key biocatalytic components in bioelectrochemical systems (BES) and can have a large impact on cell performance. This study used four different anodic carbons to investigate electrogenic biofilm development to determine the influence of charge accumulation and biofilm growth on system performance and how biofilm structure may mitigate against pH perturbations. Power production was highest (1.40 W/m3) using carbon felt, but significant power was also produced when felt carbon was open-circuit acclimated in a control reactor (0.95 W/m3). The influence of carbon material on electrogenic biofilm development was determined by measuring the level of biofilm growth, using sequencing to identify the microbial populations and confocal microscopy to understand the spatial locations of key microbial groups. Geobacter spp. were found to be enriched in closed-circuit operation and these were in close association with the carbon anode, but these were not observed in the open-circuit controls. Electrochemical analysis also demonstrated that the highest mid-point anode potentials were close to values reported for cytochromes from Geobacter sulfurreductans. Biofilm development was greatest in felt anodes (closed-circuit acclimated 1209 ng/μL DNA), and this facilitated the highest pseudo-capacitive values due to the presence of redox-active species, and this was associated with higher levels of power production and also served to mitigate against the effects of low-pH operation. Supporting carbon anode structures are key to electrogenic biofilm development and associated system performance and are also capable of protecting electrochemically active bacteria from the effects of environmental perturbations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical systems which can degrade organic materials and are increasingly seen as potential contributors to low carbon technologies, particularly in energy recovery from and treatment of wastewaters. The theoretical maximum open circuit voltage from MFCs lies in the region of 1.1 V, but is reduced substantially by overvoltage losses. Practical use of the power requires stacking or other means to increase voltage. Series stacking of MFCs with typically encountered variability in operating conditions and performance raises the risk of cell reversal, which diminishes overall power performance. A novel strategy of MFC subsystem series connectivity along with maximum power point tracking (MPPT) generates increased power from individual MFCs whilst eliminating cell reversal. MFCs fed with lower concentrations of substrate experienced voltage reversal when connected in normal series connection with one common load, but when MFCs and loads together were connected in series, the underperforming cell is effectively bypassed and maximum power is made available. It is concluded that stack voltage may be increased and cell reversal avoided using the hybrid connectivity along with MPPT. This approach may be suitable for stacked MFC operations in the event that large scale arrays/modules are deployed in treating real wastewaters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanogenesis may diminish coulombic efficiency of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), although its importance is application dependent; e.g., suppression of methanogenesis may improve MFC sensing accuracy, but may be tolerable in COD removal from wastewaters. Suppression of methanogenesis was investigated in three H-type MFCs, enriched and acclimated with acetate, propionate and butyrate substrates and subsequently operated under open and closed circuit (OC/CC) regimes. Altering the polarisation state of the electrode displaces microorganisms from the anodic biofilm and leads to observable methane inhibition. The planktonic archeal community was compared to the electrode biofilm whilst under the OC/CC regimes. Semi-quantitative DNA analyses indicate a shift in some dominant species, from the electrode to the solution, during OC operation. The effect of prolonged starvation on anodic species was also studied. The results indicate progressive inhibition of methanogenesis from OC/CC operations; and virtual cessation of methanogenesis when an MFC was starved for a significant period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration is one of the most important parameters for monitoring bio-processes such as anaerobic digestion and microbial fuel cells. In this study the correlation between VFA concentration and current/voltage responses and electrochemical properties by using the MFC technology was evaluated. The discrimination between different species of VFA by using two methods i.e., coulombic efficiency and cyclic voltammetry was investigated. Columbic efficiency gave a slow response of greater than 20h, particularly at concentration levels of 20mgl−1. By using cyclic voltammetry to measure the oxidation peak at a consistent scan rate showed linear correlation to VFA concentration and peak current produced, up to <40mgl−1) in a rapid response time of 1–2min. The results presented showed good correlations between the individual VFA species concentration and charge, and also current generated. A MFC based biosensor array was produced capable of measuring individual acetate, propionate and butyrate concentrations with sensitivity down to 5mgl−1 and up to 40mgl−1. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Increasing power production and coulombic efficiency (CE) of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is a common research ambition as the viability of the technology depends to some extent on these measures of performance. As MFCs are typically time varying systems, comparative studies of controlled and un-controlled external load impedance are needed to show if control affects the biocatalyst development and hence MFC performance. The application of logic based control of external load resistance is shown to increase the power generated by the MFC, when compared to an equivalent system which has a static resistive load. The controlled MFC generated 1600±400C, compared to 300±10C with an otherwise replicate fixed load MFC system. The use of a parsimonious gradient based control was able to increase the CE to within the range of 15.1–22.7%, while the CE for a 200Ω statically loaded MFC lay in the range 3.3–3.7%. The controlled MFC improves the electrogenic anodic biofilm selection for power production, indicating that greater power and substrate conversion can be achieved by controlling load impedance. Load control ensured sustainable current demand, applied microbial selection pressures and provided near-optimal impedance for power transference, compared to the un-controlled system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) and/or microbial fuel cell (MFC) mass transport and associated over-potential limitations are affected by flow regimes, which may simultaneously increase the power and pollution treatment capacities. Two electrodes with helical flow channels were compared in the same tubular MFC reactor. 1). A machined monolithic microporous conductive carbon (MMCC). 2). A layered carbon veil with spoked ABS former (LVSF); both presented helical flow channel. Anode performances were compared when subject to temperature, substrate concentration and flow rate variations. The MMCC maximum power increased from 2.9 ± 0.3 to 7.6 ± 0.7 mW with influent acetate concentration, from 1 to 10 mM (with 2 mL min−1), but decreased power to 5.5 ± 0.5 mW at 40 mM, implicated localized pH/buffering. Flow rate (0.1 to 7.5 mL min−1) effects were relatively small but an increase was evident from batch to continuous operation at 0.1 mL min−1. The LVSF configuration showed improved performance in power as the flow rate increased, indicating that flow pattern affects BES performance. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modelling showed less uniform flow with the LVSF. Thus flow regime driven mass transfer improves the power output in continuously fed system operation. These results indicate that electrode configuration, flow regime and operating condition need consideration to optimize the bioelectrochemical reaction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]