Evaluation of Electrode and Solution Area-Based Resistances Enables Quantitative Comparisons of Factors Impacting Microbial Fuel Cell Performance

Environmental Science & Technology
Ruggero RossiBruce E Logan

Abstract

Direct comparisons of microbial fuel cells based on maximum power densities are hindered by different reactor and electrode sizes, solution conductivities, and materials. We propose an alternative method here, the electrode potential slope (EPS) analysis, to enable quantitative comparisons based on anode and cathode area-based resistances and operating potentials. Using EPS analysis, the brush anode resistance ( RAn = 10.6 ± 0.5 mΩ m2) was shown to be 28% lower than the resistance of a 70% porosity diffusion layer (70% DL) cathode ( RCat = 14.8 ± 0.9 mΩ m2) and 24% lower than the solution resistance ( RΩ = 14 mΩ m2) (acetate in a 50 mM phosphate buffer solution). Using a less porous cathode (30% DL) did not impact the cathode resistance but did reduce the cathode performance due to a lower operating potential. With low-conductivity domestic wastewater ( RΩ = 87 mΩ m2), both electrodes had higher resistances [ RAn = 75 ± 9 mΩ m2, and RCat = 54 ± 7 mΩ m2 (70% DL)]. Our analysis of the literature using EPS analysis shows how electrode resistances can easily be quantified to compare system performance when the electrode distances are changed or the sizes of the electrodes are different.

References

Sep 10, 2004·Nature·Zongping Shao, Sossina M Haile
May 19, 2005·Water Research·Booki MinBruce E Logan
Jun 17, 2006·Nature Reviews. Microbiology·Derek R Lovley
Sep 27, 2006·Environmental Science & Technology·Bruce E LoganKorneel Rabaey
Jun 2, 2007·Environmental Science & Technology·Bruce LoganGarett Estadt
Sep 28, 2007·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Peng LiangCheng Wang
Nov 6, 2008·Environmental Science & Technology·Alim DewanZbigniew Lewandowski
Nov 27, 2008·Environmental Science & Technology·Yanzhen FanHong Liu
May 7, 2009·Biotechnology and Bioengineering·Sharon B Velasquez-OrtaBruce E Logan
Dec 17, 2009·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Bruce E Logan
May 23, 2012·ChemSusChem·Sudeep C PopatCésar I Torres
Aug 20, 2015·Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology·Hengjing YanJohn M Regan
Jul 19, 2017·Journal of Power Sources·Carlo SantoroIoannis Ieropoulos
Oct 22, 2018·Water Research·Ruggero RossiBruce E Logan

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Citations

Jul 3, 2019·Microbial Biotechnology·Sarah M Glaven
Nov 27, 2020·Environmental Science and Pollution Research International·Abdul Sattar JatoiShoaib Ahmed
Jan 17, 2021·Bioresource Technology·Haluk BeyenalDeepak Pant
Aug 8, 2020·The Science of the Total Environment·Yi LiXuhui Mao
Aug 11, 2020·Bioresource Technology·Kathryn LawsonBruce E Logan
Sep 3, 2021·The Journal of General and Applied Microbiology·Wataru Nagahashi, Naoko Yoshida

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