ENHANCEMENT OF TOLUENE DEGRADATION AND ELECTRICITY GENERATION USING SPIRULINA MICROALGAE IN A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

Shu-Hui Liu ； Wei-Hsuan Jenni Ting ； Yu-Cheng Hsieh ； Chi-Wen Lin

《Journal of Innovative Technology》 1卷1期 (2019/03) Pp. 29-36

https://doi.org/10.29424/JIT.201903_1(1).0004

摘要

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a new type of green technology, combining pollution treatment and renewable energy. In a MFC system, the energy released from the degraation of organic contaminants is harnessed as electricity. One can increase the MFC's power production efficiency by using oxygen, which has a high oxidation-reduction potential, as the system's terminal electron acceptor. In our present study, bacteria cultured under microaerobic conditions to decompose BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethybenzene, and xylene) were introduced into the anode chamber of a cube-type MFC. Toluene was added to the anode chamber, and the subsequent biodegradation of toluene by bacteria released both electrons and protons, which then migrated to the cathode (electrons via the wire, and protons through the proton exchange membrane) and reacted with the oxygen produced by the microalgae Spirulina via photosynthesis to form water. Our experimental results show that a sufficient concentration of dissolved oxygen (DO) must be maintained within the cathode in order for the MFC system to generate electricity. Furthermore, we found that when Spirulina was added to the cathode, DO levels stayed high enough to sustain continuous toluene degradation and power generation. We conclude from these results that the microalgae Spirulina is suitable as an oxygen source in the MFC cathode with its ability to maintain DO concentrations, thus stabilizing the MFC's power output and extending the system's effective lifespan.

關鍵字

Microbial fuel cell ； toluene ； microalgae ； photosynthesis ； electricity generation ； dissolved oxygen

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