BEC-ME

Microbial Electrochemical Cells with modified electrode based on ‘forest’ like carbon nanotube (CNTs) and CNT- conducting polymers nanocomposites

 Partecipanti

Mappa

 Word cloud

Esplora la "nuvola delle parole (Word Cloud) per avere un'idea di massima del progetto.

 Obiettivo del progetto (Objective)

'Microbial electrochemical cells (MECs) show promises for energy recovery from waste and efficient wastewater treatment. MECs are bioelectrochemical reactors in which chemical energy stored in reduced substrates is converted directly into electrical energy (or hydrogen) through immobilized microbial catalysts, usually termed electroactive biofilms (EAB). Current MEC performances are not optimal and prevent their use in large-scale applications. Slow electron transfer at the microorganisms/electrode interface and low overall electroactivity of EABs are among the key scientific bottlenecks that need to be resolved in order to increase MEC output and enable their cost-effective implementation in wastewater treatment plants (WWTP). A possible solution is the development of biocompatible advanced materials for electrodes that will enable efficient “wiring” of EAB to the electrode. This project focus on development of such electrode materials and their implementation in established MECs. The candidate will use ‘forest’ like carbon nanotube (CNTs) and CNT- conducting polymers nanocomposites (CNT-NCs) to modify conventional electrodes for MECs. The new electrodes will have high surface and biocompatibility and support a fully active EAB, thereby increasing extracellular electron transfer and power (or hydrogen) output in MECs. The training facilities and expertise of the host organization will be used to fulfill the multidisciplinary training of researcher needs for development of an independent research career. Additional training budget management and technology transfer provided within this project will add to the core skills of the candidate and enable her to take forward Research and Technology Development programmes. Moreover, the results could be of enormous global environmental benefit by ensuring the optimization of MEC as well as economic benefit by reducing costs for existing wastewater treatment systems.'

Introduzione (Teaser)

Wastewater treatment plants harbour a hidden goldmine of chemical energy in biowaste that can be converted to electricity. Novel electrochemical bioreactors exploiting carbon nanotubes may soon make industrial-scale applications possible.

Descrizione progetto (Article)

Microbial electrochemical cells are a promising technology to exploit the potential for renewable energy but conversion efficiencies have limited cost-effective implementation.

EU support of the project BEC-ME enabled scientists to develop improved electrodes based on carbon nanotubes.

This enhanced bacterial adhesion to the electrode and improved electron transfer and substrate oxidation.Carbon offers good biocompatibility, chemical stability and conductivity at a low cost.

Nanomaterials have higher surface area to volume ratios and are perfect for increasing bacterial immobilisation capability with enhanced bacterial sorption compared to conventional porous media.Similar to conventional fuel cells, catalysts are critical to conversion efficiency.

In this case, the catalysts are electroactive biofilms immobilised on the electrodes and the team prepared them from carbon nanotubes.

Nitrogen can increase positive charge and promote bacterial adhesion.

The team tested several nitrogen-containing modifiers including acids, bases and diazonium salts.

Modification of the carbon nanotubes with diazonium salts demonstrated increased power generation of the microbial electrochemical cells that correlated with higher surface nitrogen content.Researchers then investigated the conversion of conducting polymer nanotubes into nitrogen-containing carbon nanotubes.

The team carbonised nitrogen-containing conducting polymer nanotubes (polyaniline and polypyrrole) to again exploit the benefits of carbon, nitrogen and the nanotube architecture.

Electrochemical performance of the microbial electrochemical cells was further improved compared to carbon nanotubes alone.BEC-ME made important progress in the identification of electrode materials and modification processes that enhance the efficiency of microbial electrochemical cells in generating electricity.

Making industrial-scale application of the technology possible could provide an important source of renewable energy at wastewater treatment plants in cities and towns.