A NEW DESIGN ENHANCES HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY G. SULFURREDUCENS PCA STRAIN IN A SINGLE-CHAMBER MICROBIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELL (MEC)

Authors

  • Abudukeremu Kadier Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Mohd Sahaid Kalil Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Azah Mohamed Department of Electrical, Electronic and System Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Built Environment, National University of Malaysia (UKM), Bangi 43600, Selangor, Malaysia
  • Aidil Abdul Hamid School of Biosciences and Biotechnology, Faculty of Science and Technology, National University of Malaysia (UKM) , 43600 UKM Bangi, Selangor, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v79.11330

Keywords:

Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC), G. sulfurreducens PCA strain, hydrogen production rate (HPR), applied voltage (Eap), hydrogen recovery

Abstract

Microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is an innovative and green technology to generate hydrogen from a wide range of renewable energy sources and wastewater. At current stage, the performance of these systems is still far from real-world applications. The most likely limiting factors for successful commercialization of this technology are the large internal resistance, high fabrication and operational costs. The aim of the present study was to enhance hydrogen production, reduce the construction and operational costs in MECs via development of a novel MEC design. A single-chamber membrane-free MEC was designed and successfully produced hydrogen from organic substrate using a pure culture: Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA. The MEC system was operated with Platinum (Pt) cathode at applied voltage range of 0.6 V to 1.1 V. Geobacter sulfurreducens PCA strain and sodium acetate used as inoculum and a fuel sources, respectively. The conductivity of electrolyte solution in the MEC was 4.5 mS/cm. Due to an improved the MEC reactor architecture, the maximum hydrogen production rate (HPR) of 3.67 ± 0.03 m3 H2 /m3 d with volumetric current density (IV) of 293.73 ± 1.18 A/m3 was achieved under an external applied voltage (Eap): 1.1 V. The highest overall hydrogen recovery ( ) and overall energy efficiency ( ) were 91.80 ± 1.06% and 66.97 ± 0.09%, respectively. 

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Published

2017-07-19

Issue

Vol. 79 No. 5-3: Towards Net Carbon Neutrality

Section

Science and Engineering

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How to Cite

A NEW DESIGN ENHANCES HYDROGEN PRODUCTION BY G. SULFURREDUCENS PCA STRAIN IN A SINGLE-CHAMBER MICROBIAL ELECTROLYSIS CELL (MEC). (2017). Jurnal Teknologi, 79(5-3). https://doi.org/10.11113/jt.v79.11330