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Published on: September 20, 2012
Electricity generation from Nopal biogas effluent using a surface modified clay cup (cantarito) microbial fuel cell
Sathish-Kumar Kamaraj1, Alejandro Esqueda Rivera2, Selvasankar Murugesan3
1Laboratorio de medio ambiente sostenible y Laboratorio de Cultivo de Tejidos Vegetales, Instituto Tecnológico El Llano (ITEL)/ Tecnológico Nacional de México (TecNM), Aguascalientes. Km 18 carr, Aguascalientes-San Luis Potosí, El Llano Ags., C.P. 20330, Mexico.
Abstract:
A modified clay cup (cantarito) microbial fuel cell (C-MFCs) was designed to digest the biomass effluent from a nopal biogas (NBE). To improve the process, commercial acrylic varnish (AV) was applied to the C-MFCs. The experiment was performed as:Both-C-MFCs, painting of AV on both sides of the clay cup; In-C-MFCs, painting of AV on the internal side, and Out-C-MFCs painting of AV on the external side. The order for the maximum volumetric power densities were Both-C-MFCs (1841.99 mW/m3)>Out-C-MFCs (1023.74 mW/m3) >In-C-MFCs (448.90 mW/m3). The control experiment without applied varnish did not show a stable potential, supporting the idea that the acryloyl group in varnish could favor the performance. Finally, a 4-digits clock was powered with two, Both-C-MFCs connected in series; the microbial diversity in this format was explored and a well-defined bacterial community including members of the phyla Actinobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, Synergistetes and candidate division TM7 was found.
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