The single-chamber membrane-less MEC exerted much better hydrogen production performance while given higher applied voltages than it did at lower. High applied voltages that could shorten the reaction time and the exposure of anode to air for at least 30 min between cycles can significantly suppress methanogen and increase hydrogen production. At an applied voltage of 1.0 V, a hydrogen production rate of 1.02 m3/m3/day with a current density of 5.7 A/m2 was achieved. Cathodic hydrogen recovery and coulombic efficiency were 63.4% and 69.3% respectively. The hydrogen concentration of mixture gas produced of 98.4% was obtained at 1.0 V, which was the best result of reports. The reasons that such a high hydrogen concentration can be achieved were probably the high electrochemical activity and hydrogen production capability of the active microorganisms. Increase in substrate concentrations could not improve MEC's performance, but increased the reaction times. Further, reactor configuration and operation factors optimisation should be considered to increase current density, hydrogen production rate and hydrogen recovery.
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Research Article|
February 01 2010
High yield hydrogen production in a single-chamber membrane-less microbial electrolysis cell
Yejie Ye;
Yejie Ye
1National Engineering Research Centre for Biochemistry, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Liyong Wang;
Liyong Wang
1National Engineering Research Centre for Biochemistry, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Yingwen Chen;
Yingwen Chen
1National Engineering Research Centre for Biochemistry, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Shemin Zhu;
Shemin Zhu
2College of Material Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
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Shubao Shen
1National Engineering Research Centre for Biochemistry, Nanjing University of Technology, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
3National Engineering Research Center for Biotechnology, College of Biotechnology and Pharmaceutical Engineering, Nanjing University of Technology, No.5 Xinmofan Road, Nanjing 210009, People's Republic of China
E-mail: zsbshen@gmail.com
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Water Sci Technol (2010) 61 (3): 721–727.
Citation
Yejie Ye, Liyong Wang, Yingwen Chen, Shemin Zhu, Shubao Shen; High yield hydrogen production in a single-chamber membrane-less microbial electrolysis cell. Water Sci Technol 1 February 2010; 61 (3): 721–727. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2010.900
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