Now showing 1 - 10 of 26
  • Publication
    Discerning the biodegradation of binary dyes in microbial fuel cell: Interactive effects of dyes, electron transport behaviour, autocatalytic mechanism, and degradation pathways
    ( 2022-06-01)
    Tan S.M.
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    ; ;
    Wong Y.S.
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    Teoh T.P.
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    Yap K.L.
    This research presented the first attempt to investigate the effect of biodegradation of binary Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and Reactive Green 19 (RG19) on the performances of wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation, using anti-gravity flow microbial fuel cell (AGF-MFC) system. The influences of initial dye concentration, substrate loading, sulphate concentration and application of quinones on system performances were comprehensively evaluated. The decolourization efficiencies of AO7 were higher than RG19 in binary solutions, at every tested concentrations. The addition of higher concentration of RG19 in binary solution was also found to have increased the overall performances of MFC, owing to electron mediating characteristics of its decolourized intermediates. However, the power density declined with the addition in dye concentration. Further increase of substrate loading by 3-folds (2.43 g/L) improved the decolourization efficiency approximately by 7%, but deteriorated power performance by 42%, to 63.40 ± 0.07 mW/m2. Increasing sulphate concentration from 20 to 400 mg/L had resulted in a high decolourization extent of binary dyes ascribed to sulphide-mediated dye degradation, whereas the power generation was reduced. The increase of sulphate to 800 mg/L led to decrease in decolourization and power density of the system. These outcomes deciphered the competitions of electrons between different electron acceptors in the anodic compartment. Moreover, the autocatalytic mechanism of RG19 decolourized intermediates, 1-amino-2-naphthol-3,6-disulphonate (1A2N36S) as electronophore was thoroughly unearthed. Detailed degradation pathways of dyes were proposed based on UV-Visible spectra and gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) analyses.
  • Publication
    Biotreatment of sulfonated dyestuffs with energy recovery in microbial fuel cell: Influencing parameters, kinetics, degradation pathways, mechanisms, and phytotoxicity assessment
    ( 2021-08-01)
    Tan S.M.
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    Wong Y.S.
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    Thung W.E.
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    Teoh T.P.
    Removal of recalcitrant sulfonated dyestuff intermediates from wastewater has been an urgent challenge for environmental technologies. In this regard, the biodegradations of monoazo Methyl Orange (MO) and diazo dyes Reactive Black 5 (RB5) towards wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cell were investigated and compared through the studies on azo dye concentration, aeration, sampling points arrays, and electrode spacings. The degradation of diazo RB5 yielded higher chemical oxygen demand removal, decolourization efficiencies, and power generation over monoazo MO. The decolourization efficiency of RB5 (97.62%) increased with an increase of RB5 concentration (50 mg/L), suggesting that the system has the capability of removing higher RB5 concentration. However, contrary results were obtained with MO due to its toxicity. This study also demonstrated that the decolourization rate of diazo RB5 (0.1533 h-1) was ≈ 53% higher than monoazo MO (0.0727 h-1). The findings revealed that the degradation kinetic was remarkably influenced by the chemical structure of dye, where dye with more electron-withdrawing groups at para position are more susceptible to be reduced. Higher output voltage (568.59 mV) and power generation (108.87 mW/m2) were attained with RB5 due to electron donor availability and electron-shuttling characteristics of RB5 decolourized intermediates. Furthermore, detailed degradation pathways of MO and RB5 were presented based on the UV-vis and GC-MS results. The phytotoxicity assessment via Sorghum bicolor seeds had further verified the reduction in toxicity after the treatment of azo dyes.
  • Publication
    Discovering the roles of electrode distance and configuration in dye degradation and electricity generation in photocatalytic fuel cell integrated electro-Fenton process
    ( 2022-01-01)
    Thor S.H.
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    ; ; ; ;
    Nordin N.
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    Ong Y.P.
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    Yap K.L.
    Photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) integrated electro-Fenton (EF) system (PFC-EF system) was considered as an eco-friendly approach for dye degradation and electricity generation simultaneously. The modification on configuration of PFC-EF system was aimed to improve the dye degradation and power output. Effect of electrode distance on the efficiency of PFC-EF system was investigated as it was a crucial factor in the mass transfer of ions in PFC-EF system. Closer electrode distance reduced the resistance flow of ions and enhanced the mass transfer of ions between the electrodes in both PFC and EF, eventually yielded higher concentration of reactive species for removal of dye. Four different electrode configurations by varying the number of cathodes in PFC and EF were investigated to discover the most efficient operating configuration for this PFC-EF system. The dye decolourization rate was evaluated and compared by using pseudo-first order and second order in both PFC and EF system, respectively. Results revealed that single cathode PFC-EF system was the most effective configuration in dye degradation while double cathodes PFC-EF system was the optimal configuration to be used for power output.
  • Publication
    Unravelling the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell for Simultaneous Binary Dyes Remediation and Bioelectricity Generation
    ( 2022-01-01)
    Tan S.M.
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    Wong Y.S.
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    ; ;
    Noor N.M.
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    Moncea A.
    This study was to examine the bioremediation of wastewater containing a binary mixture of methyl orange (MO) and reactive black 5 (RB5), as well as bioelectricity generation in single chamber up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell (UFML-MFC). Decolourisation performance and power density of MFC were studied with different concentrations of binary dye (25, 50 and 75 mg/L) as influent. The colour removals evaluated from the standard curve of dye against optical density at its maximum absorption wavelength were 80.40%, 70.33% and 56.99%, respectively in the three phases of study. The decolourisation extent of RB5 is comparatively higher than MO in the binary mixture, due to the presence of more sulphonate groups in the molecular geometry of RB5. The reductive cleavage of azo bond was denoted by UV spectroscopic analysis.
  • Publication
    Polypropylene biofilm carrier and fabricated stainless steel mesh supporting activated carbon: Integrated configuration for performances enhancement of microbial fuel cell
    ( 2021-08-01)
    Tan S.M.
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    Wong Y.S.
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    Thung W.E.
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    Teoh T.P.
    The mass transfer resistance at the anode and the reduction of oxygen at the cathode are currently perceived as two major bottlenecks of microbial fuel cells. To overcome these issues, an integrated configuration was developed for performances enhancement on simultaneous bioelectricity generation and wastewater treatment in single chamber up-flow membrane-less microbial fuel cell (UFML-MFC). Polypropylene biofilm carriers were used as anodic packing materials and fabricated stainless steel mesh holder supporting activated carbon flakes (CF/SM) was employed as biocathode configuration in this study. The employments of polypropylene carriers and CF/SM enhanced not only the active surface area and microbial adhesion, but also the mass transfer of MFC system. The maximum output voltage, power and current generation achieved in this system were 615 mV, 162.59 mW/m2 and 468.74 mA/m2, respectively. In terms of wastewater treatment performance, UFML-MFC achieved 85.6% and 95.7% of COD and NH4+ removal, respectively. The COD reduction in closed circuit was 9.87% better than open circuit due to stimulation of electrochemical-active bacteria for electron transfer to the anode, which favoured organic matter degradation. The enrichment of electrogenic bacteria at A3, which was largest electrode spacing (23 cm) in the system resulted a higher voltage and power output compared to A1 (11 cm) and A2 (17 cm). Besides, the energy performances of this MFC system were also evaluated based on NERs (1.074 kWh/kg COD), NERv (22.86 Wh/m3) and CE (10.42%).
  • Publication
    Sustainable utilization of anthraquinone-rich Rheum officinale as electron shuttle in microbial fuel cell: Strategy for stimulating monohydric phenols degradation and bioelectricity generation
    In an aim to completely degrade refractory phenolic compounds for effective wastewater treatment, a sustainable strategy using anthraquinone-rich herbal plant contents as electron shuttles is presented. This study is the first attempt of treating four different chemical structures of monohydric phenols, while simultaneously generate low-carbon electricity in a microbial fuel cell. An electron shuttle-mediated strategy was introduced to investigate the effect of electron shuttle against the degradation of phenolic pollutants and bioelectricity generation, by employing Rheum officinale extract as electron shuttle. Results revealed that there was a two-fold increase in chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, degradation extent of phenol and cresol isomers, output voltage and power density of MFC, compared to the mediator-free MFC system. The degradation of phenol yielded higher COD removal, degradation efficiency, output voltage and power generation over cresol isomers, with and without the application of electron shuttle. A complete removal of COD and phenol, with output voltage of 620.06 mV and power density of 252.49 mW/m2 were obtained. Phenol outperformed cresol isomers with regard to its sole activating hydroxy (−OH) group, lower dipole moment and higher electronic conductivity (8.53 mS/cm). Conversely, meta-cresol exhibited the lowest removal efficiency and power generation, ascribed to greater inductive influence of methyl group in meta position on the dissociation energy of the − OH group. Moreover, detection of the phenolic intermediates by gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer analysis was conducted, and detailed degradation pathways were presented.
  • Publication
    Adopting co-metabolism strategy for optimized biotreatment of ortho-hydroxytoluene and bioelectricity generation in microbial fuel cell: Transformation products and pathways
    ( 2022-10-01)
    Tan S.M.
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    Wong Y.S.
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    Teoh T.P.
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    Yap K.L.
    This study investigated the effects of carbon source availability and concentrations, external loads (Rload), and cathode conditions on the overall removal rate of ortho-hydroxytoluene and bioelectricity generation characteristics in anti-gravity flow microbial fuel cell (AGF-MFC) through co-metabolism approach. Sodium acetate outperformed sucrose, glucose and carbamide, and the optimum influent acetate concentration (1000 mg L−1) significantly enhanced the o-hydroxytoluene degradation by 13.41 % (98.71 %), output voltage by 15.14 % (609.25 mV) and power generation by 30.96 % (159.44 mW m−2). The results demonstrated that there were prominent differences in MFC performances under different Rload (p < 0.05). Different external load conditions resulted in varying electron transfer reactions, and thus affecting the removal efficiency and power responses of MFC system. A complete removal of o-hydroxytoluene and highest power density of 173.10 mW m−2, with a Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal of 93.56 % were obtained with the Rload of 230 Ω, where the Rload approaches the cell design point. Hysteresis phenomenon was detected in the dynamic polarization during Rload variations. Moreover, it was observed that the removal efficiency of o-hydroxytoluene was significantly enhanced with aeration rate of 50 mL min−1, and dissolved oxygen concentration of 5.4 mg L−1. Conversely, higher aeration rate (400 mL min−1) had caused a decline of 26 % in power generation, ascribed to the limited active surface area for oxygen reduction reaction. Additionally, the degradation pathway of o-hydroxytoluene was proposed based on the identified intermediates.
  • Publication
    Preliminary screening oxidative degradation methyl orange using ozone/ persulfate
    ( 2018)
    Nur Aqilah Razali
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    Siti Nasuha Sabri
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    Su Huan Kow
    The present study focusing on the performances of advanced oxidation process by using ozonation method towards Methyl Orange based on the efficiency of colour removal and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal. Factorial design with response surface methodology (RSM) was used to evaluate the interaction between operational conditions, such as pH, initial concentration, contact time and persulfate dosage to obtain the optimum range conditions using a semi-batch reactor. The range of independent variables investigated were pH (3-11), initial concentration (100-500mg/L), contact time (10-50min) and persulfate dosage (20-100mM) while the response variables were colour removal and COD removal of Methyl Orange. The experimental results and statistical analysis showed all the parameters were significant. Thus, from this findings, optimization of operational conditions that had been suggested from the ozone/persulfate RSM analysis were (pH 3, 100 mg/L, 50min, 60mM) that would be produced 99% Colour Removal and 80% COD Removal and help in promoting an efficient ozonation process. The effect list data that showed the most contributed effects to increase the percentages of colour removal were pH and persulfate dosage whereas the contact time and initial concentration had the highest positive effects on the COD removal. Other than that, the interaction between pH, contact time and persulfate dosage were found to be the most influencing interaction. Therefore the least influencing interaction was interaction between persulfate dosage and pH. In this study, the correlation coefficient value R2 for colour removal and COD removal of Methyl Orange were R2= 0.9976 and R2= 0.9924 which suggested a good fit of the first-order regression model with the experimental data.
  • Publication
    Electro-oxidation as Tertiary Treatment Techniques for Removal of Palm Oil Mill Effluent
    The production of palm oil, though, results in the generation of huge quantities of polluted wastewater normally referred as palm oil mill effluent (POME). It gives adverse impacts to the environment, particularly if it is not properly treated. POME are known to have various types of liquids, residual oil and suspended solid as it has very high strength waste in its untreated form. Although conventional biological processes are normally efficient for the degradation of pollutants occurring in wastewater, most of these compounds are not effectively removed. As a result, further treatment is needed to meet more stringent discharge standards of Department of Environment (DOE), Malaysia. This research focused on treatment of POME by using electro-oxidation process (EO). It was done to identify the performance of EO process for colour, chemical oxygen demand (COD), suspended solids (SS), and Ammoniacal-nitrogen NH3-N) removal as well as the relative effects of different operational parameters such as pH, type of electrodes and contact time. The pH was varied between 3 and 11, using Ferum (Fe) and Aluminium (Al) electrode, and contact time from 0 to 120 min. The most suitable pH, contact time and type of electrode were pH 3, 120 min and Aluminium electrode, respectively. Therefore, EO process at specified level can be used as an efficient and effective post-treatment technology to meet the standard regulatory requirements.
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  • Publication
    Comparative efficiency study of photoanodes in the photocatalytic fuel cell integrated electro-Fenton hybrid system
    Photoanode in photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) plays an important role in the dual chamber PFC integrating electro-Fenton (EF) hybrid system (PFC-EF system) since the photo-excitation process on the photoanode will contribute to the electrons for electricity generation and electro-generation of hydrogen peroxide in EF process. Fabrication of different types of photoanodes were carried out by using anodizing and immobilization method, respectively. The fabrication methods significantly affected the efficiencies of photoanodes in the Amaranth treatment. The characterization of the fabricated photoanodes was carried out by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The immobilized ZnO/Zn photoanode achieved the highest degradation efficiencies in both PFC (80.36%) and EF (86.88%). The immobilized ZnO/Zn photoanode also contributed to the highest power density (4.545 μW cm-2).
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