Microbial electrolysis cells for production of methane from CO2: long-term performance and perspectives

• DOI: 10.1002/er.1954
• Publication Date: 2011-12-06T12:17:36Z
• Authors: Mieke C. A. A. Va...; Annemiek Ter Heijne; Cees J. N. Buisman; Hubertus V. M. Ha...
• Keywords: biomass; 0211 other engineering and technologies; reduction; fuel-cells; 02 engineering and technology; 7. Clean energy; biofuels; cation; exchange membranes; 13. Climate action; hydrogen; technology; 0202 electrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineering; electricity-generation; energy

A methane-producing microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) is a technology to convert CO2 into methane, using electricity as an energy source and microorganisms the catalyst. MEC provides possibility increase fuel yield per hectare of land area, when produced in biofuel production processes converted additional methane. Besides increasing this also results more efficient use water, nutrients. In research, performance was studied for 188 days flat-plate design. Methane rate efficiency were investigated with time elucidate main bottlenecks limiting system performance. When water electron donor at anode during continuous operation, methane 0.006 m3/m3 day cathode potential −0.55 V vs. normal hydrogen electrode coulombic 23.1%. External electrical input 73.5 kWh/m3 resulting voltage 13.4%. Consequently, overall 3.1%. The maximum achieved obtained test 51.3%. Analysis internal resistance showed that short term, losses dominant, but time, pH gradient transport became important. study are used discuss possible contribution MECs area. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.