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The significance of the initiation process parameters and reactor design for maximizing the efficiency of microbial fuel cells

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Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) can be used for electricity generation via bioconversion of wastewater and organic waste substrates. MFCs also hold potential for production of certain chemicals, such as H2 and H2O2. The studies of electricity generation in MFCs have mainly focused on the microbial community formation, substrate effect on the anode reaction, and the cathode’s catalytic properties. To improve the performance of MFCs, the initiation process requires more investigation because of its significant effect on the anodic biofilm formation. This review explores the factors which affect the initiation process, including inoculum, substrate, and reactor configuration. The key messages are that optimal performance of MFCs for electricity production requires (1) understanding of the electrogenic bacterial biofilm formation, (2) proper substrates at the initiation stage, (3) focus on operational conditions affecting initial biofilm formation, and (4) attention to the reactor configuration.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to Danida Fellowship Centre for supporting the research project (Biobased Electricity in Developing Countries, DFC No. 11–091 Risø). The financial support of China Scholarship Council (CSC) for Guotao Sun’s Ph.D. project is acknowledged.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, Søltofts Plads 229, Kongens Lyngby, 2800, Denmark

    Guotao Sun, Anders Thygesen, Marcel Tutor Ale, Finn Willy Poulsen & Anne S. Meyer

  2. Department of Chemical Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology (KNUST), Kumasi, Ghana

    Moses Mensah

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  1. Guotao Sun
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  2. Anders Thygesen
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  3. Marcel Tutor Ale
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  4. Moses Mensah
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Correspondence to Anders Thygesen.

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Sun, G., Thygesen, A., Ale, M.T. et al. The significance of the initiation process parameters and reactor design for maximizing the efficiency of microbial fuel cells. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 2415–2427 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5486-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-013-5486-5

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