Bioelectricity production and waste water treatment using air cathode microbial fuel cell

摘要

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-catalyzed electrochemical systems whose function is to convert chemical energy from waste waters to electrical energy. In this study, the electrochemical performance of air cathode and power generation in MFCs is investigated. The operational stability of the MFC with anode of carbon brush and air cathode carbon cloth (CC)/polyaniline (PANI) was studied on the basis of measuring the voltage and monitoring the organic carbon content in the medium. The maximum voltage of the cell equipped with electrodeposited PANI air cathode was 65mV and the reduction of the organic matter approached 56%. The electrodeposited PANI cathode showed a higher catalytic activity for oxygen reduction reactions.