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Long-term experience in anoxic wastewater treatment plants of planar MFC with Ce-doped cathodes

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Publications - Article

Long-term experience in anoxic wastewater treatment plants of planar MFC with Ce-doped cathodes

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) present themselves as a viable alternative to traditional sensors in the wastewater treatment process. This study showcases the results of in situ monitoring tests conducted in an anaerobic tank of a wastewater treatment plant using different MFCs (cathodes doped with nanoceria and non-doped). The presence of nanoceria enhanced the MFC signal to some extent, both in the presence of signal reversal and in its absence.

In this study, prototypes of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) (planar and cylindrical) were tested as sensors for the anaerobic condition of a denitrification tank in a wastewater treatment plant in Italy. The experimentation was conducted during various periods in 2018-2019. Electrodes were differently enriched with carbon paint containing carbon nanotubes and CeO2 nanoparticles.

 

The results highlight critical anaerobic conditions in the tank, which led to very low signals and signal reversal phenomena of the MFCs during certain periods of the year. The activity of aerobic microorganisms and protozoa growing and grazing on the bacteria on the electrodes strongly influenced the MFC signals. The presence of nanoceria enhanced the MFC signal to some extent, both in the presence of signal reversal and in its absence. The trends in the MFC signals proved useful by providing real-time information to optimize the purification process without the need for frequent biological and chemical analyses.

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Rif.RSE​

22014196

Destination​

EDP Sciences Proceedings EFC21 - European Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Piero Lunghi Conference

Publication Date

10 January 2022

Authors​

A. Franzetti, A. Espinoza, E. Barontini, (Università degli Studi di Milano Bicocca), M. Tucci (National Research Council (CNR), P. Bonelli, P. Cristiani (RSE S.p.A.)

Publication Type

Article

Projects

Hydrogen technologies (Hydrogen)

Target​

Press & Media

Related tags

#Fuel Cells

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