Performance of nano polypyrrole coated electrode for the removal of heavy metal using single chamber microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Wastewater treatments are energy demanding processes, which require around 0.018 newlinekWh/inhabitant for sewage treatment. On the other hand, around 1.5×1011 kWh of newlineenergy is stored in the domestic, animal and industrial wastewater in the form of newlinebiodegradable organic matter. A model treatment process should utilize this stored newlineenergy in order to minimise the energy crisis. One possible novel bio-electrochemical newlinetechnology that generates electricity by the biodegradation of organic components in newlinewastewater is Microbial fuel cell (MFC). In MFC, exoelectrogenic bacteria are used to newlinecatalyse the reactions on the anode and promoting the electron flow from anode to the newlinecathode for generating current. The performance of MFC is highly depended upon the newlinetechnical as well as mechanical parameters, that need to be improved inorder to develop newlinethe most efficient and practical device. One of the main challenges to enhance the newlinepower generation is the synthesis of electrodes with good electrochemical properties. In newlinethe present work, the efficiency of conductive polymers is studied as electrode newlinemodifiers in single chamber membrane less microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) for electricity newlinegeneration and heavy metal removal. newlineNano structured conductive polymers such as polypyrrole (Ppy) and polythiophene newline(PTh) are used to modify graphite felt (GF) anode to enhance the performance of newlineSCMFC with the air-breathing cathode (carbon cloth coated with platinum) using newlineShewanella putrefaciens as bio-catalyst. The characterizations such as cyclic newlinevoltammetry (CV), Tafel and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) reveals the newlineimprovement in the electrical conductivity and reduction of charge transfer resistance of newlineanode. The variation in the cell potential with time under open circuit condition resulted newlinein voltages of 0.842V and 0.644 V for Ppy-NP and PTh- NP modified GF respectively. newline