Performance of continuous flowing membrane-less microbial fuel cell with a new application of acrylic beads separator

摘要

The performance of a membrane-less microbial fuel cell (ML-MFC) was evaluated to treat actual domestic wastewater. A novel application of inexpensive acrylic beads was examined to separate the anodic and cathodic compartments. The ML-MFC was alternatively inoculated with activated sludge and anaerobic aged sludge. Results revealed that the removal efficiencies of COD and BOD from actual wastewater were 79 and 60%, respectively, using the activated sludge as inoculum. Higher removal efficiencies up to 81 and 70% were obtained for COD and BOD removal, respectively, in ML-MFC inoculated with anaerobic sludge. Upon changing the inoculum type, a variation of current density and power generation was clearly observed. Within less than four weeks, the system generated a maximum stable current of 55.65 and 67.50 mA/m(2) for ML-MFC inoculated with activated sludge and anaerobic aged sludge, respectively. Effect of inoculum type was evaluated under variable external resistance.