Enhancement of azo dye decolourization in a MFC-MEC coupled system

Yang Li; Hou-Yun Yang; Jin-You Shen; Yang Mu; Han-Qing Yu

doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.079

Enhancement of azo dye decolourization in a MFC-MEC coupled system

Bioresour Technol. 2016 Feb:202:93-100. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.079. Epub 2015 Dec 8.

Authors

Yang Li¹, Hou-Yun Yang¹, Jin-You Shen², Yang Mu³, Han-Qing Yu¹

Affiliations

¹ CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
² Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu Province, China.
³ CAS Key Laboratory of Urban Pollutant Conversion, Collaborative Innovation Centre of Suzhou Nano Science and Technology, Department of Chemistry, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Chemical Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, School of Environmental and Biological Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology, Nanjing 210094, Jiangsu Province, China. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 26702516
DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2015.11.079

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have shown the potential for azo dye decolourization. In this study, a MFC-MEC (microbial electrolysis cell) coupled system was established in order to enhance azo dye decolourization, and the influence of several key factors on reactor performance was evaluated. Moreover, a theoretical analysis was conducted to find the essential preconditions for successfully develop this MFC-MEC coupled system. The results indicate that the decolourization rate in the coupled system had a 36.52-75.28% improvement compared to the single MFC. Anodic acetate concentration of both the MFC and the MEC showed a positive effect on azo dye decolourization, while the cathodic pH of both MEC and MFC in the range of 7.0-10.3 had an insignificant impact on reactor performance in the coupled system. The theoretical analysis reveals that the MFC should have higher short-circuit electricity generation than the MEC before connecting together for a successful coupled system.

Keywords: Azo dye; Decolourization; Microbial electrolysis cell; Microbial fuel cell.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Acetates / analysis
Azo Compounds / analysis*
Bioelectric Energy Sources*
Color
Coloring Agents / analysis*
Electricity
Electrodes
Electrolysis*
Hydrogen-Ion Concentration

Substances

Acetates
Azo Compounds
Coloring Agents
methyl orange