SCI和EI收录∣中国化工学会会刊

Chinese Journal of Chemical Engineering ›› 2018, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (9): 1985-1991.DOI: 10.1016/j.cjche.2018.02.008

• Energy, Resources and Environmental Technology • 上一篇    下一篇

Ferroelectric solid solution Li1-xTa1-xWxO3 as potential photocatalysts in microbial fuel cells: Effect of the W content

Abdellah Benzaouak1, Nour-Eddine Touach1, V. M. Ortiz-Martínez2, M. J. Salar-García2, F. Hernández-Fernández2, A. P. de los Ríos2, Mohammed El Mahi1, El Mostapha Lotfi1   

  1. 1 Laboratory of Mechanics and Industrial Processes, Chemical Sciences Research Team, ENSET, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco;
    2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla Del Mar Murcia, Spain
  • 收稿日期:2017-06-05 修回日期:2018-02-02 出版日期:2018-09-28 发布日期:2018-10-17
  • 通讯作者: Abdellah Benzaouak,E-mail addresses:a.benzaouak@um5s.net.ma;V.M.Ortiz-Martínez,E-mail addresses:victor.ortiz@upct.es

Ferroelectric solid solution Li1-xTa1-xWxO3 as potential photocatalysts in microbial fuel cells: Effect of the W content

Abdellah Benzaouak1, Nour-Eddine Touach1, V. M. Ortiz-Martínez2, M. J. Salar-García2, F. Hernández-Fernández2, A. P. de los Ríos2, Mohammed El Mahi1, El Mostapha Lotfi1   

  1. 1 Laboratory of Mechanics and Industrial Processes, Chemical Sciences Research Team, ENSET, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco;
    2 Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla Del Mar Murcia, Spain
  • Received:2017-06-05 Revised:2018-02-02 Online:2018-09-28 Published:2018-10-17
  • Contact: Abdellah Benzaouak,E-mail addresses:a.benzaouak@um5s.net.ma;V.M.Ortiz-Martínez,E-mail addresses:victor.ortiz@upct.es

摘要: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical systems that can directly convert the chemical energy contained in an effluent into bioelectricity by the action of microorganisms. The performance of these devices is heavily impacted by the choice of the material that forms the cathode. This work focuses on the assessment of ferroelectric and photocatalytic materials as a new class of non-precious catalysts for MFC cathode construction. A series of cathodes based on mixed oxide solid solution of LiTaO3 with WO3 formulated as Li1-xTa1-xWxO3 (x=0, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25), were prepared and investigated in MFCs. The catalyst phases were synthesized, identified and characterized by DRX, PSD, MET and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The cathodes were tested as photoelectrocatalysts in the presence and in the absence of visible light in devices fed with industrial wastewater. The results revealed that the catalytic activity of the cathodes strongly depends on the ratio of substitution of W6+ in the LiTaO3 matrix. The maximum power densities generated by the MFC working with this series of cathodes increased from 60.45 mW·m-3 for x=0.00 (LiTaO3) to 107.2 mW·m-3 for x=0.10, showing that insertion of W6+ in the tantalate matrix can improve the photocatalytic activity of this material. Moreover, MFCs operating under optimal conditions were capable of reducing the load of chemical oxygen demand by 79% (CODinitial=1030 mg·L-1).

关键词: Ferroelectric materials, Tantalate, Photocathode, Microbial fuel cell, Bioenergy, Wastewater treatment

Abstract: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bio-electrochemical systems that can directly convert the chemical energy contained in an effluent into bioelectricity by the action of microorganisms. The performance of these devices is heavily impacted by the choice of the material that forms the cathode. This work focuses on the assessment of ferroelectric and photocatalytic materials as a new class of non-precious catalysts for MFC cathode construction. A series of cathodes based on mixed oxide solid solution of LiTaO3 with WO3 formulated as Li1-xTa1-xWxO3 (x=0, 0.10, 0.20 and 0.25), were prepared and investigated in MFCs. The catalyst phases were synthesized, identified and characterized by DRX, PSD, MET and UV-Vis absorption spectroscopy. The cathodes were tested as photoelectrocatalysts in the presence and in the absence of visible light in devices fed with industrial wastewater. The results revealed that the catalytic activity of the cathodes strongly depends on the ratio of substitution of W6+ in the LiTaO3 matrix. The maximum power densities generated by the MFC working with this series of cathodes increased from 60.45 mW·m-3 for x=0.00 (LiTaO3) to 107.2 mW·m-3 for x=0.10, showing that insertion of W6+ in the tantalate matrix can improve the photocatalytic activity of this material. Moreover, MFCs operating under optimal conditions were capable of reducing the load of chemical oxygen demand by 79% (CODinitial=1030 mg·L-1).

Key words: Ferroelectric materials, Tantalate, Photocathode, Microbial fuel cell, Bioenergy, Wastewater treatment