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Effect of static magnetic field on electricity production and wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cells

  • Bioenergy and biofuels
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Abstract

The effect of a magnetic field (MF) on electricity production and wastewater treatment in two-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) has been investigated. Electricity production capacity could be improved by the application of a low-intensity static MF. When a MF of 50 mT was applied to MFCs, the maximum voltage, total phosphorus (TP) removal efficiency, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency increased from 523 ± 2 to 553 ± 2 mV, ∼93 to ∼96 %, and ∼80 to >90 %, respectively, while the start-up time and coulombic efficiency decreased from 16 to 10 days and ∼50 to ∼43 %, respectively. The MF effects were immediate, reversible, and not long lasting, and negative effects on electricity generation and COD removal seemed to occur after the MF was removed. The start-up and voltage output were less affected by the MF direction. Nitrogen compounds in magnetic MFCs were nitrified more thoroughly; furthermore, a higher proportion of electrochemically inactive microorganisms were found in magnetic systems. TP was effectively removed by the co-effects of microbe absorption and chemical precipitation. Chemical precipitates were analyzed by a scanning electron microscope capable of energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) to be a mixture of phosphate, carbonate, and hydroxyl compounds.

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Acknowledgments

Financial supports from the National Natural Science Foundation (21277052), the Department of Guangdong Education and the Science and Technology Bureau (2010), the State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Science (2013ZC03, 2014ZB04), and the Environmental Protection Bureau (201203) are gratefully acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environment and Energy, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Qinqin Tao & Shaoqi Zhou

  2. Guizhou Academy of Sciences, Shanxi Road 1, Guiyang, 550001, People’s Republic of China

    Shaoqi Zhou

  3. State Key Laboratory of Subtropical Building Sciences, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou, 510641, People’s Republic of China

    Shaoqi Zhou

  4. Key Laboratory of Environmental Protection and Eco-remediation of Guangdong Regular Higher Education Institutions, South China University of Technology, Guangzhou Higher Education Mega Center, Guangzhou, 510006, People’s Republic of China

    Shaoqi Zhou

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  1. Qinqin Tao
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  2. Shaoqi Zhou
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Correspondence to Shaoqi Zhou.

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Tao, Q., Zhou, S. Effect of static magnetic field on electricity production and wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cells. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 9879–9887 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-6136-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-6136-2

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