Behavior of copper in membrane-less sediment microbial fuel cell

In membrane-less sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) reactors, copper ions are easily transported to the domains of both the anode and the cathode. Due to the unexpected balance between the biological effect of copper on the anode microbes and its function as electron acceptors at the cathode, the behavior of copper in membrane-less SMFCs became unexpected. The results in this manuscript showed that the copper concentration of  ≤3 mg/l in membrane-less SMFC reactors presented a positive effect on electricity generation, whereas a level of >3 mg/l played inhibitory action. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy showed that the copper concentration of  ≤3 mg/l reduced the apparent internal resistance of electrodes via improving the anode biofilm as well as the ohmic resistance of both electrodes. The concentration of copper ions experienced a decrease by up to 85.0%, due to the consumption as electron acceptors at the cathode, utilization/adsorption by biomass, and chemical precipitation.

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