Enhancement of Electricity Generation and Sulfide Removal in Microbial Fuel Cells with Lead Dioxide Catalyzed Cathode

Author

Zhang, Baogang ; Ni, Jinren

Author_Institution

Dept. of Environ. Eng., Peking Univ., Beijing, China

fYear

2010

fDate

18-20 June 2010

Firstpage

1

Lastpage

4

Abstract

Lead dioxide catalyzed cathode (PbO₂) which has high overpotential and electrode potential with low cost was tested in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for sulfide removal in this study, compared with traditional platinum based carbon cathode (Pt/C). The maximum power density of 997.26±20.20 mW/m² was realized, with sulfide removal efficiency as high as 88.73±4.37%, both showing advantage to Pt/C cathode. The products of sulfide oxidation were examined and elemental sulfur was found to be generated during energy recovery. The MFC with PbO₂ cathode got higher elemental sulfur generation than that with Pt/C cathode. Pb(II) was not detected in cathodic electrolyte during operation, indicating that PbO₂ was an effective and environmental-friendly cathodic catalyst to Pt in MFCs for electricity generation and sulfide removal.

Keywords

bioelectric potentials; biomedical electrodes; catalysis; electric power generation; fuel cells; microorganisms; wastewater treatment; carbon cathode; cathodic catalyst; electricity generation enhancement; electrode potential; lead dioxide catalyzed cathode; microbial fuel cells; sulfide oxidation; Cathodes; Chemical elements; Costs; Electrodes; Fuel cells; Lead compounds; Oxidation; Platinum; Power generation; Testing;

fLanguage

English

Publisher

ieee

Conference_Titel

Bioinformatics and Biomedical Engineering (iCBBE), 2010 4th International Conference on

Conference_Location

Chengdu

ISSN

2151-7614

Print_ISBN

978-1-4244-4712-1

Electronic_ISBN

2151-7614

Type

conf

DOI

10.1109/ICBBE.2010.5514899

Filename

5514899