Application of loofah sponge three-dimensional cage-shape activated carbon fiber with high strength in an air-cathode microbial fuel cell

作者：Zhang, Shici; Bao, Xizhong; Wan, Fang; Xie, Yu; Liu, Qi; Zhou, Boxun; Xia, Shibin^*

来源：Journal of Renewable and Sustainable Energy, 2018, 10(4): 044301.

DOI：10.1063/1.5027703

• OXYGEN REDUCTION
• WASTE-WATER
• POWER-GENERATION
• PERFORMANCE
• NITROGEN
• ELECTRICITY
• ELECTRODES
• COMPOSITE
• CATALYSTS
• ANODES

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) could achieve both sewage treatment and power generation, and an appropriate cathode material with a suitable structure could improve the MFC performance. The three-dimensional (3D) cage-shape materials derived from loofah sponge, as activated carbon fibers with high strength, were first utilized in the single-chamber air-cathode MFC (loofah sponge activated carbon fibers (LSACF)-MFC). In this study, the maximum compressive strength of LSACF as high as 202.4 kPa was achieved when the activated temperature and time were 750 degrees C and 60 min, respectively. Under such conditions, the 3D morphological characteristic and relatively large Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface area (422.5 m(2)/g) were indicated to facilitate the attachment of exoelectrogenic bacteria and decrease the internal resistance of the MFC system. According to the polarization and power density curve, the internal resistance was 420 Omega, and meanwhile, the maximum power density of 4083 mW/m 3 was achieved. These results suggest that this LSACF with high strength has great potential for the MFC application. Published by AIP Publishing.

• 出版日期2018-7
• 单位武汉理工大学; 昆明理工大学