Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 16, 2025

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
Published on: December 29, 2013
Long-term electricity generation and denitrification performance of MFCs with different exchange membranes and
Shan Huang1, Jingran Zhang2, Jiachang Pi1
1School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China; State Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Ministry of Education, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China.
Abstract:
Different biocathode electrode materials (graphite felt and carbon brush, GF and CB) and exchange membranes (proton exchange membrane and cation exchange membrane, PEM and CEM) were used in three microbial fuel cell (MFC) configurations operated for 300-days to investigate the power generation and the COD and N removal performance. Results showed no effect on the COD removal (all above 96%); however, the power generation (46.11 mW·h) and denitrification performance (68.0 ± 1.6%) of the MFC-B (GF + PEM) system were higher than those of the other systems (MFC-A: CB + PEM; MFC-C: CB + CEM) (P < 0.01), and the power generation and denitrification performance of all three systems decreased with time (P < 0.01). By analyzing the physicochemical properties of the exchange membrane and cathode electrode materials, the reasons that affect the power generation performance of the system were clarified. Furthermore, the increase in bioelectricity enhanced the electricity-related nitrification and denitrification reactions. The average 300-day unit denitrification cost of MFC-A was 4.2 and 6.3 times that of MFC-B and MFC-C, respectively. Comprehensive consideration of electricity generation, denitrification, and service life, combined with cost analysis and better selection of construction materials, provides a theoretical basis for the long-term stable operation and sustainable application of MFCs.
Related Concept Videos
Batteries and Fuel Cells
Environmental Applications of Microorganisms
Potentiometry: Membrane Electrodes
Metabolism of Chemolithotrophs

