Conference Paper: Impact of salinity on cathode catalyst performance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)

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TitleImpact of salinity on cathode catalyst performance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)
AuthorsWang, X1
Cheng, S2 3
Zhang, X4
Li, XY1
Logan, BE3
KeywordsCathode
Chloride
Microbial Fuel Cell
Salinity
Issue Date2011
PublisherPergamon. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijhydene
CitationInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2011, v. 36 n. 21, p. 13900-13906 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.03.052
AbstractSeveral alternative cathode catalysts have been proposed for microbial fuel cells (MFCs), but effects of salinity (sodium chloride) on catalyst performance, separate from those of conductivity on internal resistance, have not been previously examined. Three different types of cathode materials were tested here with increasingly saline solutions using single-chamber, air-cathode MFCs. The best MFC performance was obtained using a Co catalyst (cobalt tetramethoxyphenyl porphyrin; CoTMPP), with power increasing by 24 ± 1% to 1062 ± 9 mW/m 2 (normalized to the projected cathode surface area) when 250 mM NaCl (final conductivity of 31.3 mS/cm) was added (initial conductivity of 7.5 mS/cm). This power density was 25 ± 1% higher than that achieved with Pt on carbon cloth, and 27 ± 1% more than that produced using an activated carbon/nickel mesh (AC) cathode in the highest salinity solution. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was used to separate changes in performance due to solution conductivity from those produced by reductions in ohmic resistance with the higher conductivity solutions. The potential of the cathode with CoTMPP increased by 17-20 mV in LSVs when the NaCl addition was increased from 0 to 250 mM independent of solution conductivity changes. Increases in current were observed with salinity increases in LSVs for AC, but not for Pt cathodes. Cathodes with CoTMPP had increased catalytic activity at higher salt concentrations in cyclic voltammograms compared to Pt and AC. These results suggest that special consideration should be given to the type of catalyst used with more saline wastewaters. While Pt oxygen reduction activity is reduced, CoTMPP cathode performance will be improved at higher salt concentrations expected for wastewaters containing seawater. © 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
ISSN0360-3199
2011 Impact Factor: 4.054
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.210
DOIhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.03.052
ISI Accession Number IDWOS:000296208800068
ReferencesReferences in Scopus
DC Field
Value
dc.contributor.authorWang, X
dc.contributor.authorCheng, S
dc.contributor.authorZhang, X
dc.contributor.authorLi, XY
dc.contributor.authorLogan, BE
dc.date.accessioned2012-06-26T06:35:54Z
dc.date.available2012-06-26T06:35:54Z
dc.date.issued2011
dc.description.abstractSeveral alternative cathode catalysts have been proposed for microbial fuel cells (MFCs), but effects of salinity (sodium chloride) on catalyst performance, separate from those of conductivity on internal resistance, have not been previously examined. Three different types of cathode materials were tested here with increasingly saline solutions using single-chamber, air-cathode MFCs. The best MFC performance was obtained using a Co catalyst (cobalt tetramethoxyphenyl porphyrin; CoTMPP), with power increasing by 24 ± 1% to 1062 ± 9 mW/m 2 (normalized to the projected cathode surface area) when 250 mM NaCl (final conductivity of 31.3 mS/cm) was added (initial conductivity of 7.5 mS/cm). This power density was 25 ± 1% higher than that achieved with Pt on carbon cloth, and 27 ± 1% more than that produced using an activated carbon/nickel mesh (AC) cathode in the highest salinity solution. Linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) was used to separate changes in performance due to solution conductivity from those produced by reductions in ohmic resistance with the higher conductivity solutions. The potential of the cathode with CoTMPP increased by 17-20 mV in LSVs when the NaCl addition was increased from 0 to 250 mM independent of solution conductivity changes. Increases in current were observed with salinity increases in LSVs for AC, but not for Pt cathodes. Cathodes with CoTMPP had increased catalytic activity at higher salt concentrations in cyclic voltammograms compared to Pt and AC. These results suggest that special consideration should be given to the type of catalyst used with more saline wastewaters. While Pt oxygen reduction activity is reduced, CoTMPP cathode performance will be improved at higher salt concentrations expected for wastewaters containing seawater. © 2011, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
dc.description.natureLink_to_subscribed_fulltext
dc.identifier.citationInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2011, v. 36 n. 21, p. 13900-13906 [How to Cite?]
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.03.052
dc.identifier.doihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2011.03.052
dc.identifier.epage13906
dc.identifier.hkuros209074
dc.identifier.isiWOS:000296208800068
dc.identifier.issn0360-3199
2011 Impact Factor: 4.054
2011 SCImago Journal Rankings: 0.210
dc.identifier.issue21
dc.identifier.scopuseid_2-s2.0-80755173481
dc.identifier.spage13900
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10722/152178
dc.identifier.volume36
dc.languageeng
dc.publisherPergamon. The Journal's web site is located at http://www.elsevier.com/locate/ijhydene
dc.publisher.placeUnited Kingdom
dc.relation.ispartofInternational Journal of Hydrogen Energy
dc.relation.referencesReferences in Scopus
dc.subjectCathode
dc.subjectChloride
dc.subjectMicrobial Fuel Cell
dc.subjectSalinity
dc.titleImpact of salinity on cathode catalyst performance in microbial fuel cells (MFCs)
dc.typeConference_Paper
Author Affiliations
  1. The University of Hong Kong
  2. Zhejiang University
  3. Pennsylvania State University
  4. Tsinghua University