In anaerobic digesters (AD), volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration is a critical operative parameter, which is usually manually monitored to prevent inhibition of microbial consortia. An on-line VFAs monitoring system as early-warning for increasing concentrations would be of great help for operators. Here, air-cathode membraneless microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were investigated as potential biosensors, whose electrical signal instantaneously moves from its steady value with the accumulation of VFAs in the anodic solution. MFCs were operated equipping four lab-scale ADs with carbon-based electrodes. Reactors were filled with the digestate from a full-scale AD and fed in batch with four kinds of feedstock (cheese whey, kitchen waste, citrus pulp and fishery waste). The MFC signal initially increased in parallel to VFAs production, then tended to a steady value for VFAs concentrations above 1000mgAc L-1. Peak concentrations of tVFAs (2500-4500mgAc L-1) and MFCs potentials were negatively correlated (r =0.916, p <0.05), regardless of the type of substrate. Inhibition of the MFC system occurred when VFAs increased fast above 4000mgAc L-1. Polarization curves of electrodes stressed that electroactive bacteria on bioanodes were strongly subjected to inhibition. The inhibition of electroactivity on bioanode trended like typical shock-sensors, opening to direct application as early-warning monitoring system in full-scale ADs.

Single-chamber microbial fuel cells as on-line shock-sensors for volatile fatty acids in anaerobic digesters / A. Schievano, A. Colombo, A. Cossettini, A. Goglio, V. D'Ardes, S.P.M. Trasatti, P. Cristiani. - In: WASTE MANAGEMENT. - ISSN 0956-053X. - 71(2018), pp. 785-791. ((Intervento presentato al 2016. convegno International Symposium on Energy from Biomass and Waste tenutosi a Venezia nel 6 [10.1016/j.wasman.2017.06.012].

Single-chamber microbial fuel cells as on-line shock-sensors for volatile fatty acids in anaerobic digesters

A. Schievano
Primo
;
A. Colombo
Secondo
;
A. Goglio;V. D'Ardes;S.P.M. Trasatti
Penultimo
;
2018

Abstract

In anaerobic digesters (AD), volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentration is a critical operative parameter, which is usually manually monitored to prevent inhibition of microbial consortia. An on-line VFAs monitoring system as early-warning for increasing concentrations would be of great help for operators. Here, air-cathode membraneless microbial fuel cells (MFCs) were investigated as potential biosensors, whose electrical signal instantaneously moves from its steady value with the accumulation of VFAs in the anodic solution. MFCs were operated equipping four lab-scale ADs with carbon-based electrodes. Reactors were filled with the digestate from a full-scale AD and fed in batch with four kinds of feedstock (cheese whey, kitchen waste, citrus pulp and fishery waste). The MFC signal initially increased in parallel to VFAs production, then tended to a steady value for VFAs concentrations above 1000mgAc L-1. Peak concentrations of tVFAs (2500-4500mgAc L-1) and MFCs potentials were negatively correlated (r =0.916, p <0.05), regardless of the type of substrate. Inhibition of the MFC system occurred when VFAs increased fast above 4000mgAc L-1. Polarization curves of electrodes stressed that electroactive bacteria on bioanodes were strongly subjected to inhibition. The inhibition of electroactivity on bioanode trended like typical shock-sensors, opening to direct application as early-warning monitoring system in full-scale ADs.
Microbial fuel cells; Biosensors; Volatile fatty acids; Anaerobic digestion; Biodegradation
Settore AGR/13 - Chimica Agraria
Settore AGR/10 - Costruzioni Rurali e Territorio Agroforestale
Settore ICAR/03 - Ingegneria Sanitaria-Ambientale
Settore ING-IND/22 - Scienza e Tecnologia dei Materiali
2018
27-lug-2017
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/2434/528052
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