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  • Microbial Fuel Cells for Su...
    Rabaey, Korneel; Van de Sompel, Kirsten; Maignien, Lois; Boon, Nico; Aelterman, Peter; Clauwaert, Peter; De Schamphelaire, Liesje; Pham, Hai The; Vermeulen, Jan; Verhaege, Marc; Lens, Piet; Verstraete, Willy

    Environmental science & technology, 09/2006, Letnik: 40, Številka: 17
    Journal Article

    Thus far, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been used to convert carbon-based substrates to electricity. However, sulfur compounds are ubiquitously present in organic waste and wastewater. In this study, a MFC with a hexacyanoferrate cathodic electrolyte was used to convert dissolved sulfide to elemental sulfur. Two types of MFCs were used, a square type closed to the air and a tubular type in which the cathode compartment was open to the air. The square-type MFCs demonstrated a potential-dependent conversion of sulfide to sulfur. In the tubular system, up to 514 mg sulfide L-1 net anodic compartment (NAC) day-1 (241 mg L-1 day-1 total anodic compartment, TAC) was removed. The sulfide oxidation in the anodic compartment resulted in electricity generation with power outputs up to 101 mW L-1 NAC (47 W m-3 TAC). Microbial fuel cells were coupled to an anaerobic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactor, providing total removals of up to 98% and 46% of the sulfide and acetate, respectively. The MFCs were capable of simultaneously removing sulfate via sulfide. This demonstrates that digester effluents can be polished by a MFC for both residual carbon and sulfur compounds. The recovery of electrons from sulfides implies a recovery of energy otherwise lost in the methane digester.