On the use of ferroelectric material LiNbO3 as novel photocatalyst in wastewater-fed microbial fuel cells--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Touach, N., Ortiz-Martínez, V. M., Salar-García, M. J., Benzaouak, A., Hernández-Fernández, F., P. de Ríos, A., . . . Lotfi, E. M. (2017). On the use of ferroelectric material LiNbO3 as novel photocatalyst in wastewater-fed microbial fuel cells. Particuology, 34, 147-155. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2017.02.006

On the use of ferroelectric material LiNbO₃ as novel photocatalyst in wastewater-fed microbial fuel cells

N. Touach ^{a b *}, V.M. Ortiz-Martínez ^b *, M.J. Salar-García ^b *, A. Benzaouak ^a, F. Hernández-Fernández ^b, A. P. de Ríos ^c, M. El Mahi ^a, E.M. Lotfi ^a *

a Laboratory of Mechanics, Processes and Industrial Process, Team Chemical Sciences, ENSET, Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco
b School of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Polytechnic University of Cartagena, Campus Muralla Del Mar Murcia, Spain
c University of Murcia, Chemical Engineering Department, Campus de Espinardo, E-30071 Murcia, Spain

10.1016/j.partic.2017.02.006

Volume 34, October 2017, Pages 147-155

Received 4 November 2016, Revised 3 February 2017, Accepted 19 February 2017, Available online 16 June 2017, Version of Record 12 August 2017.

E-mail: noureddine.touach@um5s.net.ma; victor.ortiz@upct.es; mariajose.salar@upct.es; lotfi58@yahoo.fr

Highlights

• LiNbO₃ was used as photocatalyst in microbial fuel cells (MFCs).

• Power density achieved in MFCs with LiNbO₃-based cathode increased greatly under irradiation.

• LiNbO₃-based MFCs showed high COD removal capacity from industrial wastewater.

Abstract

In this work, the use of lithium niobate (LiNbO₃), a ferroelectric and photocatalyst material, is investigated as a new type of cathode catalyst for wastewater-fed single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). Carbon cloth electrodes coated with LiNbO₃ were studied with and without UV–vis irradiation to assess its photocatalytic behavior in these devices. The synthesized phase of LiNbO₃ was characterized by X-ray diffraction, differential scanning calorimetry, particle size distribution, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The MFC containing a LiNbO₃-based cathode exhibited a maximum open circuit potential and power output of 400 mV and 131 mW/m³, respectively, under irradiation. This cathode configuration also achieved the maximum chemical oxygen demand removal of 84% after 120 h of MFC operation. These results show that ferroelectric materials such as LiNbO₃ could be used as cathode catalysts in MFC devices. As a complementary analysis, the removal of the heavy metals detected in the wastewater was also monitored.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Lithium niobate; Ferroelectric material; Photocatalyst; Microbial fuel cell (MFC); Power output; Wastewater treatment

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