Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Grattieri, Matteo
• Shivel, Nelson D.
• Sifat, Iram
• Bestetti, Massimiliano
• Minteer, Shelley D.

Titel

Sustainable Hypersaline Microbial Fuel Cells: Inexpensive Recyclable Polymer Supports for Carbon Nanotube Conductive Paint Anodes

Ist Teil von

• ChemSusChem, 2017-05, Vol.10 (9), p.2053-2058

Ort / Verlag

Germany: Wiley Subscription Services, Inc

Erscheinungsjahr

2017

Link zum Volltext

Quelle

Wiley Online Library - AutoHoldings Journals

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Microbial fuel cells are an emerging technology for wastewater treatment, but to be commercially viable and sustainable, the electrode materials must be inexpensive, recyclable, and reliable. In this study, recyclable polymeric supports were explored for the development of anode electrodes to be applied in single‐chamber microbial fuel cells operated in field under hypersaline conditions. The support was covered with a carbon nanotube (CNT) based conductive paint, and biofilms were able to colonize the electrodes. The single‐chamber microbial fuel cells with Pt‐free cathodes delivered a reproducible power output after 15 days of operation to achieve 12±1 mW m−2 at a current density of 69±7 mA m−2. The decrease of the performance in long‐term experiments was mostly related to inorganic precipitates on the cathode electrode and did not affect the performance of the anode, as shown by experiments in which the cathode was replaced and the fuel cell performance was regenerated. The results of these studies show the feasibility of polymeric supports coated with CNT‐based paint for microbial fuel cell applications. Paint it black: A recyclable polymeric support is explored as a sustainable and inexpensive material for the development of anode electrodes to be applied in single‐chamber microbial fuel cells operated in field under hypersaline conditions. The support is covered with a carbon‐nanotube‐based conductive paint to allow biofilms to colonize the electrodes and achieve stable power outputs.