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Final Report: Design of an Anaerobic Digester and Fuel Cell System for Energy Generation from Dairy Waste

EPA Grant Number: SU831898
Title: Design of an Anaerobic Digester and Fuel Cell System for Energy Generation from Dairy Waste
Investigators: Christy, Ann , Bettin, Clayton C. , Eichel, Cathy , Frew, Bethany A. , Gehres, Peter D. , Graf, Julie A. , Henry, Janell C. , Henslee, Brian E. , Marron, Corin , Martin, Jay F. , Moon, Jared , Nazareth, Melissa , Sanford, Cole S. , Tuovinen, Olli H. , Weber, Aaron V. , Yazdi, Hamid Rismani
Institution: Ohio State University - Main Campus
EPA Project Officer: Nolt-Helms, Cynthia
Project Period: September 30, 2004 through May 30, 2005
Project Amount: $10,000
RFA: P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition for Sustainability Focusing on People, Prosperity, and the Planet (2004)
Research Category: Pollution Prevention/Sustainable Development

Description:

Objective:

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an innovative technology that allows the bio-generation of electricity directly from an organic energy source. Research was conducted to determine the potential of using dairy wastewater as a sustainable energy source for an MFC and also treating that waste in the process.

The primary objectives were to:

  1. test whether electrode material impacts electrical energy production,
  2. study the possible application of MFC technology as a waste treatment alternative,
  3. and design a larger scale system to power a useful device.

The scope of the project included designing and constructing small-scale MFCs, loading them with dairy wastewater, testing five different anode materials and statistically analyzing the results, and designing a large-scale MFC.

The project included both research and education. The project was used as a Senior Capstone Engineering Design project, was integrated into numerous existing courses, and formed the primary extracurricular project for an award-winning multi-disciplinary student competitive design team.

Summary/Accomplishments (Outputs/Outcomes):

Dairy waste was found to have a natural population of microorganisms capable of seeding an MFC. Dairy wastewater also proved to be a very effective substrate. Different graphite electrode materials provided varying levels of electrical energy generation, demonstrating with greater than 99.99% confidence (P-value <0.00 1) that electrode material has an impact on the electrical output of MFCs. Porous graphite foam produced the highest energy per surface area (3.21 mW/m2), but was the most expensive electrode material ($1 3/in2). Performance of graphite gasket material and graphite plate was statistically similar and gave the second highest energy per surface area values (1.762 and 1.914 mW/m2, respectively). Graphite gasket, previously unmentioned in MFC literature, was found to he the most inexpensive and abundant alternative ($0.12/in2). The other two electrode materials tested gave the poorest performance with 1.212 mW/m2 from graphite felt fabric and 0.829 mW/m2 from graphite paper. All the MFCs tested reduced biochemical oxygen demand (HOD) by 10.9- 29.6% over a ten day period. On average, the graphite gasket electrode MFCs yielded a 23.6% reduction in BOD. A larger scale design has been constructed and is being tested as a power source for a battery charger. Phase I has lead to several individual undergraduate honors projects and graduate research programs and to the establishment of the Microbial Fuel Cell Laboratory at The Ohio State University.

Conclusions:

Microbial fuel cells were proven to be able to generate electricity directly from dairy wastewater by using naturally-occurring rurnen microorganisms in the waste. Electrode material had a major impact on electrical output. Graphite foam produced the highest output at the highest material price (3.21 mW/m2 at $13/in2). Graphite gasket produced the best combination of power and cost (1.762 mW/m2 at $0.12/in2), suggesting its future value for economical large-scale applications. MFCs were found to be capable of treating high strength dairy wastewater, reducing BOD by up to 30% while producing electrical energy over a ten day period. A scaled up MFC application to power a useful device is currently in the testing stage; results will be reported in May to the USEPA at the P3 Student Design Competition in Washington, D.C.

Proposed Phase II objectives and strategies:
The Phase II proposes to continue and expand on Phase I research and education though implementation of past results and exploration of additional MFC substrates, inoculums and confirmations. Phase 11 proposes the integration of MFC technology into research on Ecological Waste Treatment Systems (i.e., Living MachinesTM) which currently are operating at the Ohio State University ’s Waterman Dairy Farm. The larger-scale MFCs would moderately reduce BOD, while providing the power required for the Ecological Waste Treatment System to further reduce BOD and other nutrients in the dairy wastewater to legal discharge concentrations. Phase I had the effect of improved engineering education on sustainable energy technologies and biomass waste-to-energy conversion through a Senior Capstone Engineering Design project and the extracurricular Rio-Environmental Design Team; Phase II proposes to continue those educational opportunities while also opening new opportunities for undergraduate honors research, enhancing graduate research, and creating a new course to be offered on the topic of waste-to-energy biomass conversion.


Journal Articles on this Report: 1 Displayed | Download in RIS Format

Other project views: All 1 publications 1 publications in selected types All 1 journal articles

Type Citation Project Document Sources
Journal Article Henslee, B.E., Gehres, P.D., Bettin, C.C., Stokes, R.C., Frew, B.A., Weber, A.V., Nazareth, M., and Harcus, S.A. 2004. Biological Fuel Cell: Modeling, Design, and Testing. Final Report for ASAE’s G.B. Gunlogson Student Environmental Design Competition. Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. 34 p. SU831898 (Final)
 not available
Supplemental Keywords:

microbial fuel cells, alternative energy, dairy waste, graphite electrode materials, ecological waste treatment system, , Sustainable Industry/Business, Scientific Discipline, RFA, POLLUTION PREVENTION, Technology for Sustainable Environment, Sustainable Environment, Energy, Environmental Engineering, Environmental Chemistry, energy conservation, anaerobic digester, agricultural byproducts, alternative energy source, renewable energy, advanced oxidation process, energy efficiency, fuel cell energy systems, microbial fuel cells, waste to fuel conversion, energy technology
Relevant Websites:

http://fabe.osu.edu/FACULTY/ann%20christy.htm exit EPA
http://fabe.osu.edu/FACULTY/FABE%20652%20Homepage.htm exit EPA

Progress and Final Reports:
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The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.

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