Analysis of microbial fuel cell operation in acidic conditions using the flocculating agent ferric chloride

Winfield, Jonathan; Greenman, John; Dennis, Julian; Ieropoulos, Ioannis

Abstract

© 2014 Society of Chemical Industry. BACKGROUND: Ferric chloride (FeCl3) is widely used as a flocculating agent during wastewater treatment but can detrimentally lower pH and increase iron concentration. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for treating waste while concomitantly producing electricity and so were tested under the extreme conditions imposed by the addition of FeCl3. MFCs were fed eight concentrations of FeCl3 over two 8-week periods and the effects on power, pH, conductivity, metal content and COD were examined. RESULTS: MFCs generated highest power (3.58Wm-3) at 1.6mmolL-1 FeCl3 (pH 3.46), however cells reversed when fed 2mmolL-1 (pH 3.29). During the second run, power almost doubled and MFCs were more resilient at higher loadings up to 2.8mmolL-1 (pH 3.02). Conductivity and pH increased following treatment while soluble phosphorus, sulphur and iron levels decreased significantly in all feedstock up to 1.6mmolL-1 FeCl3. COD reduction was observed but efficiency may have been affected by the presence of alternative electron donors such as hydrogen sulphide. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate the robustness and versatility of MFCs in hostile conditions. They also confirm that MFCs can complement current wastewater treatment processes, even downstream from FeCl3 dosing where conditions might be deemed unsuitable for operation.

Citation

Winfield, J., Greenman, J., Dennis, J., & Ieropoulos, I. (2016). Analysis of microbial fuel cell operation in acidic conditions using the flocculating agent ferric chloride. Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology, 91(1), 138-143. https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.4552

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2016
• Deposit Date: Feb 11, 2015
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 11, 2016
• Journal: Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology
• Print ISSN: 0268-2575
• Electronic ISSN: 1097-4660
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 91
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 138-143
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/jctb.4552
• Keywords: microbial fuel cell, ferric chloride, wastewater, flocculation, coagulation, acidic
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/915870
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jctb.4552
• Additional Information: Additional Information : This is the accepted version of the following article: Winfield, J., Greenman, J., Dennis, J. and Ieropoulos, I. (2016) Analysis of microbial fuel cell operation in acidic conditions using the flocculating agent ferric chloride. Journal of Chemical Technology & Biotechnology, 91 (1). pp. 138-143. ISSN 0268-2575, which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jctb.4552