Electricity Generation in Response to Algae Growth in Cathode Chamber in Microbial Fuel cells

• Main Author: 謝明季
• Other Authors: Chi-Yuan Lee
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 2013
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/32273312335966410241

碩士 === 國立臺灣海洋大學 === 河海工程學系 === 101 === In this study, both the pollutant removals and electricity generation were examined in two parallel membrane-less microbial fuel cells (MFCs), one having algae growth in cathode chamber and the other one without growing algae. Artificial wastewater contained COD 150 mg/L and ammonia 25 mg/L was continuously discharged into the two MFCs, loaded under 1000 Ω external resistance, and operated at light/dark cycles and hydraulic retention time of 1.4 days. Experimental results indicated that after a period of 153 days operation the MFCs-algae had better electricity production than the MFCs without algae. Specifically, the MFCs-algae had averaged power output 120 mW/m3, whereas the MFCs without algae only 3.3 mW/m3. Moreover, under light intensity of 1200 lux the algae in cathode chamber produced oxygen from 55.3 mg/L-d increasing to 86.4 mg/L-d, and energy efficiencies from 0.01 % to 0.014 %. Regarding pollutant removals, when operated in 0.1 kg COD/m3-d and 0.02 kg NH3-N/m3-d, the MFCs-algae achieved removals in COD 75 % and ammonia 39 %, whereas the MFCs without algae gave removals in COD 68 % and ammonia 72 %. It appeared that the MFCs-algae exhibited better performance in removing organics, supplying oxygen, and energy efficiency than the MFCs without algae. These findings suggest that membrane-less microbial fuel cells with algae growth in cathode is a promising sustainable technology, which has potential application in water resource management.