Enhanced Coulombic efficiency in glucose-fed microbial fuel cells by reducing metabolite electron losses using dual-anode electrodes

Abstract

Glucose-fed microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have displayed low Coulombic efficiency (CE); one reason for a low CE is metabolite generation, causing significant electron loss within MFC systems. In the present study, notable electron loss (15.83%) is observed in glucose-fed MFCs due to residual propionate, a glucose metabolite. In order to enhance the low CE caused by metabolite generation, a dual-anode MFC (DAMFC) is constructed, which are separately enriched by dissimilar substrates (glucose and propionate, respectively) to effectively utilize both glucose and propionate in one-anode chamber. In the DAMFC, propionate ceases to exist as a source of electron loss, and thus the CE increased from 33 ± 6 to 59 ± 4%.