Mugwanya Joseph Shenyang University School of Environmental Sciences 8th/Jan/2015

Supervised By Prof.Yang Yuesuo

Application of Bio Fuel Cell Remediation of Oil

Contaminated Soil &Water Environment

This study was conducted to determine the remedies of an oil spill when carbon components and hydrogen are converted to methane and hydrogen to form an energy consequently leading to BFC by identifying a formulation methodology after subsurface environment petroleum contaminated land .The contamination process and corresponding bio-geo-chemistry were analyzed in parallel with geochemistry, statistical and transport model with multi-variant statistical modeling at petroleum-contaminated site(PCS) as a case study citing from north east China .Knowledge on BFCs generated energy from PCS will provide more insights on production of electricity that is more economical and cleaner in today’s industrious world as an affirmative remedy to sub surface Oil spills .

Abstract

BFC is a bio-electrochemical system that drives a current by using bacteria and mimicking bacteria interactions found in nature .It consists of the anode and cathode compartments separated by a cation that is positively charged ion.

The anode compartment fuel is oxidized by microorganisms generating CO2 electrons and protons are consumed in the cathode compartment combing with oxygen to form water.

What is Bio Fuel Cell ?

Figure 1.Showing BFC Electrical Power generation

Oil leakages causes and the aftermath on soil & ground water citing from our site description staged in Jilin northeast China 2005.

Human interference and negligence lead to the accidental oil spill causing huge repercussions to both the marine and soil ground ecosystems.

Background of Oil-Leaking causing soil and groundwater contamination

Sourced from worldatlas.com

Map Locating Jilin Site Study

Pioneering the genesis of this study Soil-based BFC adhere to the same basis piloted in figure 1. whereby soil acts as as a nutrient-rich anodic media ,the inoculum and the protons exchange membrane (PEM).The anode is placed at a certain depth within the soil while the cathode rests on the top of the soil thus exposed to oxygen in the air above it .

Naturally soil has a diverse consortium of microbes including the electro genic microbes needed in BFC and full of complex sugars and other nutrients that have accumulated over millions of years of plants and animals material decay.

Oil contaminated soil-based Bio-fuel Cell

Figure2. Soil-based BFC Electrical Generation

Preamble Under going research shows BFC is placed

among the top 50 most important energy sources 2020 which gives us a stand hold to suggest a new applicable approach for industrial power generation. Citing from (Ashley.E.Franks et al 2010) BFC power voltage is still negligible low for large scale production.

Our presumption is subsurface petroleumcontaminated sites (PCS) will show an increment in the voltage of power generation by BFC to meet human needs .

Application using BFC for Bio-remediation of Oil contaminated Soil Water

Bio-remediation is a waste management technique that involves the use of organisms to remove or neutralize pollutants from a contaminated site .These technologies are classified into two situ bioremediation where treating the contaminated materials at the affected site looking on ex situ involves the removal of the contaminated material to be treated else where.

Defining Bio-Remediation

Petroleum

Contaminated Site identified by BTEX

Biodegradation and Biore

mediation in shallow soil mediu

m

Enzymatic

Nutrients

CH3COOH

Microbes

accept electrons at the

Anode biofil

m

Produce CO2

and a positive ion

of hydrogen

Electrons flow to the Anode

At the Catho

de O2,H and

water are

produced

Power Generation

Diagrammatical Classification of the Module

Laboratory Experiment BFC Bruce E. Logan 2004

(a) This two-compartment microbial fuel cell (MFC) is the most common laboratory design. The anoxic anode chamber, which contains bacteria, is on the left, and the air-spurge cathode chamber is on the right. A bridge containing a polymeric proton- exchange membrane separates the two chambers.

(b) In this single-chamber MFC, the proton-exchange membrane is bonded directly to the air-driven cathode, which runs down the center of the reactor. Eight anodes form a concentric circle around the cathode.

Explanation to the above experiment

Conceptual Frame Work

Energy Production by BFC & Bio-remediation

Bio Fuel Cell

Automation Cardiology Industrial Power Generation

Introduction; Under our specialism and deeper knowledge as environmental scientists our core focus is to establish Industrial power generation with less diversion in the mechanical automation, however being problem solvers further attention can be drawn in the cardio logical health sector due to the on pressured medical human demands today using BFC.

Subjectively

A. Create a portable power energy used in Automation using a relatively cheap source and cleaner generated energy after forecasting growing populations demanding for vehicles all over the world.

B. Medical Engineering Research in the Cardiology Department to fabricate an Artificial Heart in replacement of the current used Pace Makers used today in respiratory related diseases.

C. Using fermented waste material from Food Processing Plants to produce BFC Industrial Power generation, which is economically viable.

Rations

) Honda Vehicle Fuel Cell (Bruce.E.Logan 2004)

Automation, citing from Bruce E. Logan ‘Extracting Hydrogen Electricity from renewable resources.’ An insight of Honda’s fuel cell vehicle it is has been established that the emission carbon dioxide of oil-powered vehicles has done harmful effects to mankind and her environment. Not objecting the continuous global demand for a finite oil and natural gas reserves alternative solutions for renewable energy resources for national energy security and a negligible environment pollutant as addressed by the formed International partnership for the hydrogen Economy between the USA, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, the European Commission, France, Germany, Iceland, India, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway, Russia and the United Kingdom.

Using MFC captured from Bruce E. Logan et al. say this new fuel cell technology under development provides a more direct method for recovering the 85% of the energy that remains in the wastewater after hydrogen production. In he’s critical analysis a conversional fuel cell, hydrogen gas is injected into the anode chamber and split on a platinum-coated electrode into protons and electrons. The electrons pass along a wire to cathode producing current, while the protons are conducted between the chambers through a proton exchange membrane .At the platinum-coated cathode, oxygen combines with the electrons and protons to form water.

State of the art Toyota Nov. 2013‘Mirai’ a japan word literally meaning future claims a range of up to 300 miles on 5kgs of gaseous hydrogen as equated that a kilo of hydrogen has the same energy content as a gallon of gasoline.

Australia using BFC the production of clean water is of utmost importance and currently Fosters an Australian beer company has begun testing out water generated from BFC.

Automation

Recent establishments from the University of Utah Joseph Wang and team June 2013 experimented lactate in sweet a fuel cell on human skin. When the body can’t generate enough energy from aerobic respiration, it’s then triggered converting glucose or glycogen to lactic acid generating energy. Students in California University San Diego have created a bio fuel cell tattoo shown in figure 8 above that can scavenge energy from sweat to generate electricity. This portable energy using biosensors when coupled with a wearable energy storage device (battery) shall be used in cardio logical departments as an Artificial Heart. Joseph W. tested for the energy potential applied on exercising individuals and concluded that ranges from 5 to 7μWcm2 and further noted fitter people produce less lactate therefore less of the generated energy.

Joint Research in BFC Medical and Engineering Application

A Tattoo Exhibiting Perspiration to Power Generation (Manisha.Lalloo 2013)

Redox Reaction Occurring Within lactate Sweat in formation of Fuel Cell Power

The applicability in generation of artificial human heart power under these aggressive research phenomena attributed to BFC energy that uses lactate –oxidase enzyme at the anode to oxidize lactate to pyruvate and on the negative charge the cathode laid on the platinum particles which reduce the oxygen present combined they power the cell.

Artificial Heart Analytical Verdict

On petroleum contaminated site (PCS) using Benzene Toluene Ethyl benzene and Xylenes BTEX to detect the oil spill methodology, timed decomposition and attenuated situ bio-remediation in shallow ground soil & water both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria enzymatically catalyzed for soil microbes at the anode laid on an anode biofilm producing positive electron donors to the Cathode. A newer approach to generation of the BFC in the lure of high voltage power production for industrial usage.

Grand Conclusion

  Wei Fan .Y.S Yang. X.Q.Du.Y.Lu.M.X.Yang 29th Oct.2010 Finger-Printing

Biodegradation of Petroleum Contamination in Shallow Groundwater and Soil System Using Hydro-biogeochemical Markers and Modeling Support.

Bruce.E.Logan May 2004 Extracting Hydrogen Electricity from Renewable Resources. The Pennsylvania State University.

Kevin Attra Analyst Buck Scientific Application Note #GC3005 Environmental Analysis of BTEX Compounds in Soil, Water and Sludge by GC/PID

Imogene L.Chang Phd and Zhenghua Ji,Phd Agilent Technologies Wilimington ,DE19808-1610 Optimized Analysis of Gasoline (BTEX) in Water and Soil Using GC/FID with Purge and Trap

Joseph Wang. June 2013 University of Utah Lactate in Sweat a Fuel Found on Human Skin.

MFC Ashley E. Franks and Kelly P. Nevin 28th April 2010 Microbial Fuel Cells, A Current Review.

Jilin Northeast China Accidental Oil fields spills catchment area 13th Nov 2005

References

MSC STUDENT BFC