The biofilm characteristics and enhanced performance of a marine microbial-electrolysis-cell-based biosensor under positive anodic potential

Microbial fuel cells have already been used as biosensors to monitor assimilable organic carbon(AOC).However,their signal production from AOC is known to be completely suppressed by dissoved oxygen(DO).In this study,two identical microbial electrolysis cell(MEC)based biosensors were inoculated with marine sediment and operated at two different anodic potentials,namely-300 mV and+250 mV relative to Ag/AgCl.The MEC biosensor operated under positive anodic potential conditions had electrochemically active microbial communities on the anode,including members of the Shewanellaceae,Pseudoalteromonadaceae,and Clostridiaceae families.However,the strictly anaerobic members of the Desulfuromonadaceae,Desulfobulbaceae and Desulfobacteraceae families were found only in the negative anodic potential MEC biosensor.The positive anodic potential MEC biosensor showed several other advantages as well,such as faster start-up,significantly higher maximum current production,fivefold improvement in the AOC detection limit,and tolerance of low dissolved oxygen,compared to those obtained from the negative anodic potential MEC biosensor.The developed positive anodic potential MEC biosensor can thus be used as a real-time and inexpensive detector of AOC concentrations in high saline and low DO seawater.

Fabrication and anodic polarization behavior of lead-based porous anodes in zinc electrowinning

A new type of lead-based porous anode in zinc electrowinning was prepared by negative pressure infiltration. The anodic polarization potential and corrosion rate were studied and compared with those of traditional fiat anodes （Pb-0.8%Ag） used in industry. The anode corrosion rate was determined by anode actual current density and microstructure. The results show that the anodic oxygen evolution potential decreases first and then increases with the decrease of pore diameter. The anodic potential decreases to the lowest value of 1.729 V at the pore diameter of 1.25-1.60 mm. The porous anode can decrease its actual current density and thus decrease the anodic corrosion rate. When the pore diameter is 1.60-2.00 mm, the anodic relative corrosion rate reaches the lowest value of 52.1%.

Preparation and performance of 3D-Pb anodes for nonferrous metals electrowinning in H2SO4 aqueous solution

The effects of Pb^2+concentration,current density,deposition time and temperature on Pb deposit structure were investigated.In lower Pb^2+concentration(~0.15 mol/L),carambola-like 3D-Pb structure was constructed,while in higher Pb2+concentration(≥0.30 mol/L),Pb deposits exhibited pyramid-like structure.Furthermore,the oxide layer and anodic potential of carambola-shaped 3D-Pb(Cara-Pb)and pyramid-shaped 3D-Pb(Pyra-Pb)anodes were investigated and compared with those of fresh Pb anode.After 72 h galvanostatic electrolysis(50 mA/cm2)in 160 g/L H2SO4 solution,the oxide layer on Pyra-Pb was much thicker than that on Cara-Pb and Pb anodes,which remarkably relieved intercrystalline corrosion of the metallic substrate.Additionally,the oxide layer on Pyra-Pb anode presented a larger surface area and higher PbO2 content.Hence,Pyra-Pb anode showed a 40 m V lower anodic potential compared to Cara-Pb and Pb anodes.In sum,Pyra-Pb anode had a potential to decrease energy consumption and prolong the life span of traditional Pb anode.

Fabrication of nanoporous TiO_2 films with novel surface morphology on conducting glass(FTO) substrate

The crystalline structure and surface morphology of TiO2 semiconductor coating play an important role in the conversion efficiency of dye-sensitized solar cells. In order to obtain TiO2 coating with controllable morphology and high porosity, nanoporous TiO2 films were fabricated on conducting glass （FTO） substrates, Ti thin films （1.5-2 gin） were deposited on conducting glass （FTO） substrates via the DC sputtering method, and then electrochemically anodized in NH4F/ethylene glycol solution. The crystalline structure and surface morphology of the samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction （XRD） and field emission scanning electron microscopy （FESEM）, respectively. The influences of anodizing potential, electrolyte composition, and pH value on the surface morphology of nanoporous TiO2 films were extensively studied. The growth mechanism of nanoporous TiO2 films was discussed by current density variations with anodizing time. The results demonstrate that nanoporous TiO2 films with high porosity and three-dimensional （3D） networks are observed at 30 V, when the NH4F concentration in ethylene glycol solution is 0.3% （mass fraction） and the electrolyte pH value is 5.0.

Carbon Foam Anode Modified by Urea and Its Higher Electrochemical Performance in Marine Benthic Microbial Fuel Cell

Electrode materials have an important effect on the property of microbial fuel cell(MFC). Carbon foam is utilized as an anode and further modified by urea to improve its performance in marine benthic microbial fuel cell(BMFC) with higher voltage and output power. The electrochemical properties of plain carbon foam(PC) and urea-modified carbon foam(UC) are measured respectively. Results show that the UC obtains better wettability after its modification and higher anti-polarization ability than the PC. A novel phenomenon has been found that the electrical potential of the modified UC anode is nearly 100 m V lower than that of the PC, reaching-570 ±10 m V(vs. SCE), and that it also has a much higher electron transfer kinetic activity, reaching 9399.4 m W m-2, which is 566.2-fold higher than that from plain graphite anode(PG). The fuel cell containing the UC anode has the maximum power density(256.0 m W m-2) among the three different BMFCs. Urea would enhance the bacteria biofilm formation with a more diverse microbial community and maintain more electrons, leading to a lower anodic redox potential and higher power output. The paper primarily analyzes why the electrical potential of the modified anode becomes much lower than that of others after urea modification. These results can be utilized to construct a novel BMFC with higher output power and to design the conditioner of voltage booster with a higher conversion ratio. Finally, the carbon foam with a bigger pore size would be a potential anodic material in conventional MFC.