Effect of graphene modified cathode on paracetamol removal in microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Paracetamol was used as the anode substrate to build dual chamber microbial fuel cells with graphene modified cathode to improve the performance of reactors. Results verified, graphene modified reactor could improve paracetamol removal rate by 18 % compared to unmodified reactor and the daily average voltage curve of modified reactor was higher as well. Daily average voltage curves affected by the response of microbial to paracetamol, results indicated that the voltage curve was more stable and higher under lower paracetamol concentration at the beginning. However, the long term performance of microbial fuel cell was better under higher paracetamol concentration, how long the running time would continue didn't accord with the increasing of paracetamol concentration because of the toxicity of paracetamol to microorganisms. Simultaneously, removal rate of paracetamol was tested under different salt bridge diameters. The highest removal rate was obtained with cross-section(S) of 28.26 mm2 (Φ6). These results show that this processing mode using graphene modified microbial fuel cells to degrade paracetamol was feasible and in favour of promoting the removal rate of paracetamol.