Sludge Derived Carbon Modified Anode in Microbial Fuel Cell for Performance Improvement and Microbial Community Dynamics
Kaili Zhu,
Yihu Xu,
Xiao Yang,
Wencai Fu,
Wenhao Dang,
Jinxia Yuan,
Zhiwei Wang
Affiliations
Kaili Zhu
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Yihu Xu
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Xiao Yang
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Wencai Fu
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Wenhao Dang
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Jinxia Yuan
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
Zhiwei Wang
Key Laboratory of Clean Pulp & Papermaking and Pollution Control of Guangxi, College of Light Industry and Food Engineering, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
The conversion of activated sludge into high value-added materials, such as sludge carbon (SC), has attracted increasing attention because of its potential for various applications. In this study, the effect of SC carbonized at temperatures of 600, 800, 1000, and 1200 °C on the anode performance of microbial fuel cells and its mechanism are discussed. A pyrolysis temperature of 1000 °C for the loaded electrode (SC1000/CC) generated a maximum areal power density of 2.165 ± 0.021 W·m−2 and a current density of 5.985 ± 0.015 A·m−2, which is 3.017- and 2.992-fold that of the CC anode. The addition of SC improves microbial activity, optimizes microbial community structure, promotes the expression of c-type cytochromes, and is conducive to the formation of electroactive biofilms. This study not only describes a technique for the preparation of high-performance and low-cost anodes, but also sheds some light on the rational utilization of waste resources such as aerobic activated sludge.
