Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
Abstract
While energy consumption is increasing worldwide due to population
growth, the fossil fuels are unstable and exhaustible resources for
establishing sustainable life. Using biodegradable compounds present in
the wastewater produced in industrial process as a renewable source is
an enchanting approach followed by scientists for maintaining a
sustainable energy production to vanquish this problem for ulterior
generations. In this research, bioelectricity generation with whey
degradation was investigated in a two-chamber microbial fuel cell with
humic acid as anodic electron mediator and a cathode compartment
including combinational electron acceptor. Escherichia coli was able
to use the carbohydrate originated from whey to generate
bioelectricity. The open-circuit potential in absence of mediator was
751.5 mV at room temperature. The voltage was stable for more than 24
h. Humic acid was used as a suitable mediator. In addition, some mixed
chemicals were employed as catholyte. Based on polarization curve, the
power and current values in the presence of a mixed solution of
potassium iodide (KI), ferric chloride [FeCl3 (Ш)] and manganese
chloride tetrahydride (MnCl2·4H2O) with doubling of oxidant
(oxygen) concentration using agitation with magnet stirrer in cathode
compartment without any buffer solution were boosted to 562.9 μW
and 1906.1 μA, respectively, and demonstrated the best result for
power generation
