Improved energy recovery from dark fermented cane molasses using microbial fuel cells

doi:10.1007/s11705-014-1403-4

Front Chem Sci Eng

2014, Vol. 8

Issue (1) : 43-54 https://doi.org/10.1007/s11705-014-1403-4

RESEARCH ARTICLE

Improved energy recovery from dark fermented cane molasses using microbial fuel cells

Soumya Pandit, Balachandar G, Debabrata Das(

)

Department of Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India

Download: PDF(394 KB) HTML
Export: BibTeX | EndNote | Reference Manager | ProCite | RefWorks

Abstract

A major limitation associated with fermentative hydrogen production is the low substrate conversion efficiency. This limitation can be overcome by integrating the process with a microbial fuel cell (MFC) which converts the residual energy of the substrate to electricity. Studies were carried out to check the feasibility of this integration. Biohydrogen was produced from the fermentation of cane molasses in both batch and continuous modes. A maximum yield of about 8.23 mol H₂/kg COD_removed was observed in the batch process compared to 11.6 mol H₂/kg COD_removed in the continuous process. The spent fermentation media was then used as a substrate in an MFC for electricity generation. The MFC parameters such as the initial anolyte pH, the substrate concentration and the effect of pre-treatment were studied and optimized to maximize coulombic efficiency. Reductions in COD and total carbohydrates were about 85% and 88% respectively. A power output of 3.02 W/m³ was obtained with an anolyte pH of 7.5 using alkali pre-treated spent media. The results show that integrating a MFC with dark fermentation is a promising way to utilize the substrate energy.

Keywords dark fermentation biohydrogen microbial fuel cell volatile fatty acid anolyte

Corresponding Author(s): Das Debabrata,Email:ddas.iitkgp@gmail.com

Issue Date: 05 March 2014

Cite this article:

Soumya Pandit,Balachandar G,Debabrata Das. Improved energy recovery from dark fermented cane molasses using microbial fuel cells[J]. Front Chem Sci Eng, 2014, 8(1): 43-54.

URL:

https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/10.1007/s11705-014-1403-4
https://academic.hep.com.cn/fcse/EN/Y2014/V8/I1/43

Fig.1 Photographs of the experimental set-up used in the two-stage process: dark fermentation and single chambered MFC

Fig.2 Simulation of the cumulative hydrogen production using the modified Gompertz equation at optimal media composition

Fig.3 Effect of dilution rate on: (a) the rate of hydrogen production and (b) COD removal efficiency

Fig.4 Hydrogen yield for: (a) raw cane molasses in the batch process, (b) cane molasses with supplements (yeast and malt extracts) in the batch process and (c) cane molasses with supplements in the continuous process.

Tab.1 The effect of initial anolyte pH on single chambered MFCs with 6 g/L alkali treated anolyte

Fig.5 (a) Polarization curves for anodic half-cell voltages versus current density at different external loads and power densities with initial anolyte pH values of 7.5, 8.5 and 6.5. (b) Percent relative decrease in the anode potential (RDAP) observed during MFC operation with respect to applied external resistance and depicting sustainable power

Fig.6 Coulombic efficiency (CE), volumetric power density (P) and anolyte conductivity at different concentrations of alkali pre-treated spent media

Fig.7 Polarization of MFCs using different buffer supplemented anolytes

Tab.2 Comparative study on dark fermentation integrated with MFC

1	Elam C C, Padró C E G, Sandrock G, Luzzi A, Lindblad P, Hagen E F. Realizing the hydrogen future: the International Energy Agency’s efforts to advance hydrogen energy technologies. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2003, 28(6): 601–607 doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(02)00147-7
2	Nayak B K, Pandit S, Das D. Biohydrogen. In: Kennes C, Veiga ría C, editors. Air Pollution Prevention and Control. John Wiley & Sons Ltd , 2013, 345–381
3	Oh Y K, Raj S M, Jung G Y, Park S. Current status of the metabolic engineering of microorganisms for biohydrogen production. Bioresource Technology , 2011, 102(18): 8357–8367 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.054
4	Das D, Veziro?lu T N. Hydrogen production by biological processes: A survey of literature. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2001, 26(1): 13–28 doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(00)00058-6
5	Levin D B, Pitt L, Love M. Biohydrogen production: Prospects and limitations to practical application. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2004, 29(2): 173–185 doi: 10.1016/S0360-3199(03)00094-6
6	Jung G Y, Jung H O, Kim J R, Ahn Y, Park S. Isolation and characterization of Rhodopseudomonas palustris P4 which utilizes CO with the production of H₂. Biotechnology Letters , 1999, 21(6): 525–529 doi: 10.1023/A:1005560630351
7	Benemann J. Hydrogen biotechnology: progress and prospects. Nature Biotechnology , 1996, 14(9): 1101–1103 doi: 10.1038/nbt0996-1101
8	Mohan S V, Srikanth S, Velvizhi G, Babu M L. Microbial Fuel Cells for Sustainable Bioenergy Generation: Principles and Perspective Applications. In: Gupta V K, Tuohy M G, eds. Biofuel Technologies . Berlin: Springer Berlin Heidelberg, 2013, 335–368
9	Momirlan M, Veziroglu T. Current status of hydrogen energy. Renewable & Sustainable Energy Reviews , 2002, 6(1–2): 141–179 doi: 10.1016/S1364-0321(02)00004-7
10	Lovley D R. The microbe electric: conversion of organic matter to electricity. Current Opinion in Biotechnology , 2008, 19(6): 564–571 doi: 10.1016/j.copbio.2008.10.005
11	Logan B E, Regan J M. Electricity-producing bacterial communities in microbial fuel cells. Trends in Microbiology , 2006, 14(12): 512–518 doi: 10.1016/j.tim.2006.10.003
12	Torres C I, Marcus A K, Lee H S, Parameswaran P, Krajmalnik-Brown R, Rittmann B E. A kinetic perspective on extracellular electron transfer by anode-respiring bacteria. FEMS Microbiology Reviews , 2010, 34(1): 3–17 doi: 10.1111/j.1574-6976.2009.00191.x
13	Oh S T, Kim J R, Premier G C, Lee T H, Kim C, Sloan W T. Sustainable wastewater treatment: How might microbial fuel cells contribute. Biotechnology Advances , 2010, 28(6): 871–881 doi: 10.1016/j.biotechadv.2010.07.008
14	Guwy A J, Dinsdale R M, Kim J R, Massanet-Nicolau J, Premier G. Fermentative biohydrogen production systems integration. Bioresource Technology , 2011, 102(18): 8534–8542 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.051
15	Sharma Y, Li B. Optimizing energy harvest in wastewater treatment by combining anaerobic hydrogen producing biofermentor (HPB) and microbial fuel cell (MFC). International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2010, 35(8): 3789–3797 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.01.042
16	Mohanakrishna G, Venkata Mohan S, Sarma P N. Utilizing acid-rich effluents of the fermentative hydrogen production process as a substrate for harnessing bioelectricity: An integrative approach. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2010, 35(8): 3440–3449 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.01.084
17	Wang A, Sun D, Cao G, Wang H, Ren N, Wu W M, Logan B E. Integrated hydrogen production process from cellulose by combining dark fermentation, microbial fuel cells, and a microbial electrolysis cell. Bioresource Technology , 2011, 102(5): 4137–4143 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2010.10.137
18	Park M J, Jo J H, Park D, Lee D S, Park J M. Comprehensive study on a two-stage anaerobic digestion process for the sequential production of hydrogen and methane from cost-effective molasses. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2010, 35(12): 6194–6202 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2010.03.135
19	Vatsala T M. Hydrogen production from (cane-molasses) stillage by Citrobacter freundii and its use in improving methanogenesis. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 1992, 17(12): 923–927 doi: 10.1016/0360-3199(92)90052-X
20	González T, Terrón M C, Yagüe S, Zapico E, Galletti G C, González A E. Pyrolysis/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry monitoring of fungal-biotreated distillery wastewater using Trametes sp. I-62 (CECT 20197). Rapid Communications in Mass Spectrometry , 2000, 14(15): 1417–1424 doi: 10.1002/1097-0231(20000815)14:15<1417::AID-RCM41>3.0.CO;2-I
21	Singhania R R, Patel A K, Christophe G, Fontanille P, Larroche C. Biological upgrading of volatile fatty acids, key intermediates for the valorization of biowaste through dark anaerobic fermentation. Bioresource Technology , 2013, 145: 166–174 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.12.137
22	Poggi-Varaldo H M, Carmona-Martínez A, Vázquez-Larios A L, Solorza-Feria O.Effect of inoculum type on the performance of a microbial fuel cell fed with spent organic extracts from hydrogenogenic fermentation of organic solid wastes. Journal of New Materials for Electrochemical Systems , 2009, 12: 049–054
23	Kumar N, Das D. Enhancement of hydrogen production by Enterobacter cloacae IIT-BT 08. Process Biochemistry , 2000, 35(6): 589–593 doi: 10.1016/S0032-9592(99)00109-0
24	Kumar N, Das D. Continuous hydrogen production by immobilized Enterobacter cloacae IIT-BT 08 using lignocellulosic materials as solid matrices. Enzyme and Microbial Technology , 2001, 29(4–5): 280–287 doi: 10.1016/S0141-0229(01)00394-5
25	Khilari S, Pandit S, Ghangrekar M M, Das D, Pradhan D. Graphene supported α-MnO2 nanotubes as a cathode catalyst for improved power generation and wastewater treatment in single-chambered microbial fuel cells. RSC Advances , 2013, 3(21): 7902–7911 doi: 10.1039/c3ra22569k
26	Behera M, Ghangrekar M M. Performance of microbial fuel cell in response to change in sludge loading rate at different anodic feed pH. Bioresource Technology , 2009, 100(21): 5114–5121 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2009.05.020
27	Lay J J, Li Y Y, Noike T. Influences of pH and moisture content on the methane production in high-solids sludge digestion. Water Research , 1997, 31(6): 1518–1524 doi: 10.1016/S0043-1354(96)00413-7
28	Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater. 20th Ed. American Public Health Association (APHA), American Water Works Association, Water Pollution Control Federation, Washington DC . 1998, 141
29	Logan B E, Hamelers B, Rozendal R, Schr?der U, Keller J, Freguia S, Aelterman P, Verstraete W, Rabaey K. Microbial fuel cells: Methodology and technology. Environmental Science & Technology , 2006, 40(17): 5181–5192 doi: 10.1021/es0605016
30	Logan B E. Microbial Fuel Cells. 1st ed. Wiley-Interscience , 2008, 216
31	Loewus F A. Improvement in anthrone method for determination of carbohydrates. Analytical Chemistry , 1952, 24(1): 219–219 doi: 10.1021/ac60061a050
33	Seol E, Kim S, Raj S M, Park S. Comparison of hydrogen-production capability of four different Enterobacteriaceae strains under growing and non-growing conditions. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2008, 33(19): 5169–5175 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2008.05.007
34	Bringi V, Dale B E. Enhanced yeast immobilization by nutrient starvation. Biotechnology Letters , 1985, 7(12): 905–908 doi: 10.1007/BF01088014
35	Gavala H N, Skiadas I V, Ahring B K. Biological hydrogen production in suspended and attached growth anaerobic reactor systems. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy , 2006, 31(9): 1164–11 doi: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2005.09.009
36	Gil G C, Chang I S, Kim B H, Kim M, Jang J K, Park H S, Kim H J. Operational parameters affecting the performance of a mediator-less microbial fuel cell. Biosensors & Bioelectronics , 2003, 18(4): 327–334 doi: 10.1016/S0956-5663(02)00110-0
37	He Z, Huang Y, Manohar A K, Mansfeld F. Effect of electrolyte pH on the rate of the anodic and cathodic reactions in an air-cathode microbial fuel cell. Bioelectrochemistry (Amsterdam, Netherlands) , 2008, 74(1): 78–82 doi: 10.1016/j.bioelechem.2008.07.007
38	Ren Z, Ward T E, Regan J M. Electricity production from cellulose in a microbial fuel cell using a defined binary culture. Environmental Science & Technology , 2007, 41(13): 4781–4786 doi: 10.1021/es070577h
39	Venkata Mohan S, Veer Raghavulu S, Sarma P N. Biochemical evaluation of bioelectricity production process from anaerobic wastewater treatment in a single chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC) employing glass wool membrane. Biosensors & Bioelectronics , 2008, 23(9): 1326–1332 doi: 10.1016/j.bios.2007.11.016
40	Menicucci J, Beyenal H, Marsili E, Veluchamy, Demir G, Lewandowski Z. Veluchamy, Demir G, Lewandowski Z. Procedure for determining maximum sustainable power generated by microbial fuel cells. Environmental Science & Technology , 2006, 40(3): 1062–1068 doi: 10.1021/es051180l
41	Yuan Y, Zhao B, Zhou S, Zhong S, Zhuang L. Electrocatalytic activity of anodic biofilm responses to pH changes in microbial fuel cells. Bioresource Technology , 2011, 102(13): 6887–6891 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2011.04.008
42	Kim B H, Chang I S, Gadd G M. Challenges in microbial fuel cell development and operation. Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology , 2007, 76(3): 485–494 doi: 10.1007/s00253-007-1027-4
43	Kim B H, Chang I S, Gil G C, Park H S, Kim H J. Novel BOD (biological oxygen demand) sensor using mediator-less microbial fuel cell. Biotechnology Letters , 2003, 25(7): 541–545 doi: 10.1023/A:1022891231369
44	Di Lorenzo M, Curtis T P, Head I M, Scott K. A single-chamber microbial fuel cell as a biosensor for wastewaters. Water Research , 2009, 43(13): 3145–3154 doi: 10.1016/j.watres.2009.01.005
45	Lefebvre O, Tan Z, Kharkwal S, Ng H Y. Effect of increasing anodic NaCl concentration on microbial fuel cell performance. Bioresource Technology , 2012, 112: 336–340 doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2012.02.048

[1]	Shaojie Wang,Zhihong Ma,Ting Zhang,Meidan Bao,Haijia Su. Optimization and modeling of biohydrogen production by mixed bacterial cultures from raw cassava starch[J]. Front. Chem. Sci. Eng., 2017, 11(1): 100-106.

Viewed

Full text

Abstract

Cited

Shared

Discussed