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Section B: Microbial Biofuel Cells
Electric Power Generation from Municipal, Food, and Animal Wastewaters Using Microbial Fuel Cells
Article first published online: 22 FEB 2010
DOI: 10.1002/elan.200980011
Copyright © 2010 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
1521-4109/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=209b447dcf920ba3fb44f2b08a87a6b586320422 "Electroanalysis")
Additional Information
How to Cite
Fornero, Jeffrey J., Rosenbaum, M. and Angenent, Largus T. (2010), Electric Power Generation from Municipal, Food, and Animal Wastewaters Using Microbial Fuel Cells. Electroanalysis, 22: 832–843. doi: 10.1002/elan.200980011
Publication History
- Issue published online: 1 APR 2010
- Article first published online: 22 FEB 2010
- Manuscript Accepted: 1 OCT 2009
- Manuscript Received: 15 JUN 2008
- Abstract
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- Microbial fuel cells;
- Wastewater treatment;
- Economical evaluation;
- Coulombic efficiency;
- Fuel cells
Abstract
Here, we explore if microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology can replace activated sludge processes for secondary wastewater treatment. We will discuss the present limitations and problems of electric current generation when a complex wastewater is treated with a diverse and undefined community of microbes in large-scale systems. These challenges include low coulombic efficiencies, slow kinetic rates, and nonlinear power density increases during scale-up efforts. Finally, we developed a prediction of the main economic gain from treating wastewater with microbial fuel cells. We conclude that electricity generation will not justify MFC operation, but that BOD removal with this more sustainable technology is attractive.