Electricity Generation of Microbial Fuel Cell Using Stainless Steel Mesh as Cathode

Authors

Hong-yan DAI, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Tai yuan 030024, China;Department of Environmental Engineering, Tai yuan College, Taiyuan 030032, China;
Hui-min YANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Tai yuan 030024, China;
Xian LIU, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Tai yuan 030024, China;
Xuan JIAN, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Tai yuan 030024, China;
Xiu-li SONG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Tai yuan 030024, China;Department of Chemistry, Taiyuan Normal University, Taiyuan 030031, China;
Zhen-hai LIANG, College of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Taiyuan University of Technology, Tai yuan 030024, China;Follow

Corresponding Author

Zhen-hai LIANG(liangzhenhai@tyut.edu.cn)

Abstract

In the present work, a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was constructed with aeration tank sludge as an inoculum, carbon felt as an anode and stainless steel mesh without any modification as a cathode. The influence of the cathode size was investigated in terms of voltage output, power generation and electrochemical impedance. The long-term durability of the stainless steel mesh cathode was also evaluated. Results showed that the stainless steel mesh exhibited satisfactory long-term durability as MFC cathode. When the stainless steel mesh size was 2 × 2 cm², the maximum output voltage, power density, the internal resistance and the polarization resistance were 0.411 V, 0.303 W•m^-2, 841 Ω and 80 Ω, respectively. Increasing the cathode size to 2 × 4 cm², the maximum output voltage could reach 0.499 V, and the internal resistance reduced to 793 Ω. These studies demonstrated that the stainless steel mesh was suitable for MFC cathode because of its durability and low price.

Graphical Abstract

Keywords

stainless steel mesh, microbial fuel cells, cathode, electricity generation, durability

DOI Link

https://doi.org/10.13208/j.electrochem.150928

Publication Date

2016-02-29

Online Available Date

2015-11-03

Revised Date

2015-10-23

Received Date

2015-09-28

Recommended Citation

Hong-yan DAI, Hui-min YANG, Xian LIU, Xuan JIAN, Xiu-li SONG, Zhen-hai LIANG. Electricity Generation of Microbial Fuel Cell Using Stainless Steel Mesh as Cathode[J]. Journal of Electrochemistry, 2016 , 22(1): 75-80.
DOI: 10.13208/j.electrochem.150928
Available at: https://jelectrochem.xmu.edu.cn/journal/vol22/iss1/9