Effects of sulphate addition and sulphide inhibition on microbial fuel cells

Ieropoulos, I.; G�lvez, A.; Greenman, J.; Ieropoulos, Ioannis; G�lvez, Antonia; Greenman, John

Abstract

The effects of adding sulphate in: (i) standard activated sludge microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and (ii) larger-scale leachate-treating columns - both as individual units and as a system connected in cascade - are reported. S-replete power output was ∼2-fold higher than that of the S-deplete MFC. Furthermore, the effects of evolved sulphide (S2-) inhibition were investigated. The overall decrease in power output from the sulphide inhibitor (Na2MoO4) additions was 83% for the S-replete and 90% for the S-deplete. The second phase with the leachate treating units shows an improvement of 32-86% (depended on leachate strength) in current output as a result of adding sulphate. When leachate column MFCs were connected fluidically in series, the amount of Na2SO4 made available downstream was decreasing (increase in power was 99%, 40% and 12% for columns in cascade). Results demonstrated the beneficial effects of added sulphur sources to both activated sludge and leachate-treating MFCs. © 2012 Elsevier Inc.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 10, 2013
• Journal: Enzyme and Microbial Technology
• Print ISSN: 0141-0229
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 52
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 32-37
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2012.10.002
• Keywords: microbial fuel cells, sulphate, activated sludge, landfill leachate, sodium molybdate
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/935636
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enzmictec.2012.10.002