Performance analysis of electrode materials (activated carbon and carbon butts) in microbial fuel cells using domestic wastewater

dc.contributor.authorOffei, Felix
dc.date.accessioned2016-10-04T16:25:48Z
dc.date.accessioned2023-04-21T10:33:13Z
dc.date.available2016-10-04T16:25:48Z
dc.date.available2023-04-21T10:33:13Z
dc.date.issuedMAY, 2015
dc.descriptionA thesis submitted to the Department of Chemical Engineering, College of Engineering in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of the degree of MASTER OF PHILOSOPHY May, 2015en_US
dc.description.abstractThe study investigated the performance of activated carbon from palm kernel shells and carbon butts as electrode materials in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) with faecal sludge and grey water as inoculum sources. It particularly sought to examine the power generation and wastewater treatment potential of the selected electrode materials when applied in the MFC technology. The motivation for this work is as a result of the growing demand for decentralized power generation and wastewater treatment systems especially for rural household and schools. The study was conducted through the examination of performance data from MFCs operating with the selected electrode materials and inoculum through the application of electrical, electrochemical and biochemical techniques. The study established that faecal sludge and grey water formed efficient biofilms containing electrogenic bacteria such as Geobacter sp. which initiates substrate oxidation for the release of electrons to the electrode material. It further established that activated carbon from palm kernel shells can be efficiently applied in MFCs since it generated power densities of up to 1.74W/m3 which is comparable to the carbon paper (standard) by up to 86%. Carbon butts were inefficient in MFCs generating negligible power densities of up to 0.001W/m3. Also organic substrate removal efficiencies of up to 72% were achieved by MFCs operating with the activated carbon.en_US
dc.description.sponsorshipKNUSTen_US
dc.identifier.urihttps://ir.knust.edu.gh/handle/123456789/9072
dc.language.isoenen_US
dc.titlePerformance analysis of electrode materials (activated carbon and carbon butts) in microbial fuel cells using domestic wastewateren_US
dc.typeThesisen_US
Files
Original bundle
Now showing 1 - 1 of 1
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
FELIX OFFEI_MPhil_2015.pdf
Size:
3.13 MB
Format:
Adobe Portable Document Format
Description:
Full Thesis.
License bundle
Now showing 1 - 2 of 2
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.73 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description:
Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Name:
license.txt
Size:
1.71 KB
Format:
Item-specific license agreed to upon submission
Description: