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| Efficacy and mechanism of microbial fuel cell treating Cr(VI)-containing wastewater with anaerobically fermented sludge as substrate |
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Abstract A double-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was constructed with anaerobically fermented sludge as substrate in the anode chamber and Cr (VI) as electron acceptor in the cathode chamber. Both efficacy and mechanism of this new MFC system were investigated and results were compared with the former system. The former MFC showed an open-circuit voltage of 1.05V. Its maximal power density was found to be 5722 mW/m3, which was 57.8% higher than the former MFC system. The apparent internal resistance of the current MFC was 119.1Ω, which was 8.5% lower than that of the fomer MFC. Cr (VI) removal in both MFCs fitted the first-order kinetic model. The rate coefficient of Cr (VI) removal in the current MFC was 0.0514h-1, which was 36.7% higher than that in the former MFC. After anaerobic fermentation of the sludge, concentration of the soluble organic matters, especially short-chain fatty acids, were obviously increased. These products were easily assimilated by the microorganisms for electricity production, which led to enhancements of electricity production and Cr (VI) removal in the former MFC.
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Received: 26 January 2014
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