Boosting Power Generation by Sediment Microbial Fuel Cell in Oil-Contaminated Sediment Amended with Gasoline/Kerosene

The high internal resistance (Rint) that develops across the sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFC) limits their power production (~4/10 mW m−2) can be recovered from an initial oil-contaminated (OCS). In anolyte, Rint is related to poor biodegradation activity, quality and quantity of contaminant content in anode material. While on catholyte, depends properties oxygen reduction reaction (ORR), cathode this work, main factors limiting output SMFC have been minimized. was increased (47 times its value, ~4 minimizing (28 5000 ohms), following modifications. Anolyte: OCS amended with several amounts gasoline kerosene. best anaerobic activity indigenous populations better adapted (without more culture media) 3 g Catholyte: ORR catalyzed birnessite/carbon fabric (CF)-cathode at pH 2, 0.8M Na2SO4. At class level, groups (Gammaproteobacteria, Coriobacteriia, Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria) electroactive members were found C-anode associated high-power densities obtained. Gasoline difficult biodegrade than However, both cases, are when performed birnessite/CF 0.8 M Na2SO4 2. work discussed here focus bioremediation (in heavy OCS) or energy future work. Keywords: Birnessite Catalyst, Gammaproteobacteria, Kerosene, Oil-Contaminated Sediments, Sediment Microbial Fuel Cells