Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 27, 2026

Development of Sulfidogenic Sludge from Marine Sediments and Trichloroethylene Reduction in an Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket Reactor
Published on: October 15, 2015
Factors affecting the performance of microbial fuel cells for sulfur pollutants removal
Feng Zhao1, Nelli Rahunen, John R Varcoe
1Chemical Sciences, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
Abstract:
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been developed for removal of sulfur-based pollutants and can be used for simultaneous wastewater treatment and electricity generation. This fuel cell uses an activated carbon cloth+carbon fibre veil composite anode, air-breathing dual cathodes and the sulfate-reducing species Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. 1.16gdm(-3) sulfite and 0.97gdm(-3) thiosulfate were removed from the wastewater at 22 degrees C, representing sulfite and thiosulfate removal conversions of 91% and 86%, respectively. The anode potential was controlled by the concentration of sulfide in the compartment. The performance of the cathode assembly was affected by the concentration of protons in the cation-exchanging ionomer with which the electrocatalyst is co-bound at the three-phase (air, catalyst and support) boundary.
Related Concept Videos
Microbial Fuel Cells
Microbial Wastewater Treatment
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Microbes and the Sulfur Cycle
Microbial Bioremediation of Hydrocarbons
Bioremediation

