Application of microbial fuel cell technology for vinasse treatment and bioelectricity generation

Cristiane Angélica Ottoni; Marta F Simões; Jonas G Santos; Luciana Peixoto; Cleiton R Martins; Bruno P Silva; Almir O Neto; António G Brito; Alfredo E Maiorano

doi:10.1007/s10529-018-2624-2

Application of microbial fuel cell technology for vinasse treatment and bioelectricity generation

Biotechnol Lett. 2019 Jan;41(1):107-114. doi: 10.1007/s10529-018-2624-2. Epub 2018 Nov 15.

Authors

Cristiane Angélica Ottoni^{1

2}, Marta F Simões³, Jonas G Santos⁴, Luciana Peixoto⁵, Cleiton R Martins⁶, Bruno P Silva⁶, Almir O Neto⁷, António G Brito⁸, Alfredo E Maiorano⁴

Affiliations

¹ São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bioscience Institute, São Vicente, SP, 11380-972, Brazil. cristiane.ottoni@unesp.br.
² Laboratório de Biotecnologia Industrial, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-901, Brazil. cristiane.ottoni@unesp.br.
³ Biology Department, Edge Hill University, St Helens Road, Lancashire, Ormskirk, L39 4QP, UK.
⁴ Laboratório de Biotecnologia Industrial, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, 05508-901, Brazil.
⁵ Centre of Biological Engineering, University of Minho, Campus of Gualtar, 4710-057, Braga, Portugal.
⁶ São Paulo State University (UNESP), Bioscience Institute, São Vicente, SP, 11380-972, Brazil.
⁷ Centro de Célula a Combustível e Hidrogênio, Instituto de Pesquisas Energéticas e Nucleares, São Paulo, SP, 05508-000, Brazil.
⁸ Department of Biosystems Sciences and Engineering, Institute of Agronomy, University of Lisbon, Tapada da Ajuda, 1349-017, Lisbon, Portugal.

PMID: 30443879
DOI: 10.1007/s10529-018-2624-2

Abstract

Objective: Our study evaluated the performance of different two-chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC) prototypes, operated with variable distance between electrodes and Nafion membrane and specific inoculum concentration, applied for vinasse treatment.

Results: The performance of the developed MFC resulted in a maximum current density of 1200 mA m^-2 and power density of 800 mW m^-2 in a period of 61 days. MFC performed a chemical oxygen demand removal at a rate ranging from 51 to 60%.

Conclusions: Taking our preliminary results into consideration, we concluded that the MFC technology presents itself as highly promising for the treatment of vinasse.

Keywords: Bioelectricity; Chemical oxygen demand; Microbial fuel cell; Vinasse.

MeSH terms

Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Saccharum / chemistry*