Wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cell and direct electric power generation: fundaments and application

• Grant number: 11/23026-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate
• Start date: April 01, 2012
• End date: January 05, 2016
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Sanitary Engineering - Water Supply and Wastewater Treatment
• Principal Investigator: Ernesto Rafael Gonzalez
• Grantee: Eduardo Dellosso Penteado
• Host Institution: Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 09/15984-0 - Bioenergy production from wastewaters and environmental fitting of liquid and solid wastes generated, AP.TEM
• Associated scholarship(s): 14/07904-5 - Winery wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cell, BE.EP.DR

Abstract

Nowadays, society is experiencing a number of environmental challenges such as pollution of the aquatic environment and atmosphere, compounded by the introduction of in natura wastewater and emission of gases from the burning of fossil fuels for power generation. Having been growing energy demand it is necessary to search alternative sources of energy, which can minimize the environmental problems that already exist. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a new energy alternative such as convert chemical energy of substrate into electrical power by means of catalytic reactions of microorganisms. This research project aims to evaluate the anaerobic fixed-bed and upward flow in the electrodes containing immobilized biomass applied to wastewater treatment and the direct production of power in mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The attachment of biomass, the removal efficiency of organic matter, and the current density and electric power will be evaluated in different electrode materials using the technique of differential reactors. The best support material will be used in bench-scale reactors. The physic-chemical and electrical parameters will be analyzed according to: (I) the variation of hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the anode chamber (anaerobic), modifying the influent flow of the MFC; (II) the variation of the HRT of the cathode chamber (aerobic), changing the volume of this compartment:; (III) the rate of oxygenation by testing different air flow; and (iv) the use of electron transfer mediators, applying different substances and concentrations. Set the operating parameters of the MFC will use the reactor to treat real wastewater (vinasse). All tests will be carried out under mesophilic and thermophilic, 25°C and 55°C, respectively. (AU)

Scientific publications

(7)

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

PENTEADO, EDUARDO D.; FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE, CARMEN M.; ZAIAT, MARCELO; CANIZARES, PABLO; GONZALEZ, ERNESTO R.; RODRIGO, MANUEL A. R.. Energy recovery from winery wastewater using a dual chamber microbial fuel cell. JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY, v. 91, n. 6, p. 1802-1808, JUN 2016. (09/15984-0, 14/07904-5, 11/23026-0)

PENTEADO, EDUARDO D.; MARIA FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE, CARMEN; ZAIAT, MARCELO; CANIZARES, PABLO; GONZALEZ, ERNESTO RAFAEL; ANDRES RODRIGO, MANUEL. Influence of sludge age on the performance of MFC treating winery wastewater. Chemosphere, v. 151, p. 163-170, MAY 2016. (09/15984-0, 14/07904-5, 11/23026-0)

PENTEADO, EDUARDO D.; MARIA FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE, CARMEN; ZAIAT, MARCELO; GONZALEZ, ERNESTO RAFAEL; ANDRES RODRIGO, MANUEL. On the Effects of Ferricyanide as Cathodic Mediator on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cells. ELECTROCATALYSIS, v. 8, n. 1, p. 59-66, JAN 2017. (09/15984-0, 14/07904-5, 11/23026-0)

PENTEADO, EDUARDO D.; MARIA FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE, CARMEN; ZAIAT, MARCELO; GONZALEZ, ERNESTO RAFAEL; ANDRES RODRIGO, MANUEL. OPTIMIZATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL USING THE RATIO ELECTRODE-SURFACE AREA / ANODE-COMPARTMENT VOLUME. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. 35, n. 1, p. 6-pg., 2018-01-01. (09/15984-0, 14/07904-5, 11/23026-0)

EDUARDO D. PENTEADO; CARMEN MARIA FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE; MARCELO ZAIAT; ERNESTO RAFAEL GONZALEZ; MANUEL ANDRÉS RODRIGO. Optimization of the performance of a microbial fuel cell using the ratio electrode-surface area / anode-compartment volume. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. 35, n. 1, p. 141-146, 2018-01-00. (14/07904-5, 11/23026-0, 09/15984-0)

PENTEADO, EDUARDO D.; MARIA FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE, CARMEN; ZAIAT, MARCELO; GONZALEZ, ERNESTO RAFAEL; ANDRES RODRIGO, MANUEL. OPTIMIZATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL USING THE RATIO ELECTRODE-SURFACE AREA / ANODE-COMPARTMENT VOLUME. Brazilian Journal of Chemical Engineering, v. 35, n. 1, p. 141-146, JAN-MAR 2018. (11/23026-0, 14/07904-5, 09/15984-0)

PENTEADO, EDUARDO D.; FERNANDEZ-MARCHANTE, CARMEN M.; ZAIAT, MARCELO; GONZALEZ, ERNESTO R.; RODRIGO, MANUEL A.. Influence of carbon electrode material on energy recovery from winery wastewater using a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY, v. 38, n. 11, p. 1333-1341, 2017. (09/15984-0, 14/07904-5, 11/23026-0)

Academic Publications

(References retrieved automatically from State of São Paulo Research Institutions)

PENTEADO, Eduardo Dellosso. Wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cell and direct electrical power generation: fundamentals and aplication. 2016. Doctoral Thesis - Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) São Carlos.