Study of Bioelectrode Performance in Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Clean Energy and Carbon Reduction
Yashawini Phriya Rauichandran, Swee Su Lim, Wai Yin Wong, Mimi Hani Abu Bakar, Ebrahim Mahmoudi, Peer Mohamed, Eileen Yu, Jean Marrie, Hassan Mohamed
Abstract: Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are emerging technologies that are capable of simultaneous wastewater treatment and hydrogen generation. This research involves studying bioelectrodes enrichment and interactions to enhance MEC performance and feasibility. Bioanodes and biocathodes were enriched separately at +0.2 V and -0.9 V. The bioanode achieved a maximum current density of 0.30 ± 0.05 A/m2 within potential range of -0.2 and +1.0 V, while the biocathode began producing hydrogen below -0.8 V vs. SHE; thus, it is optimal to operate both bioelectrodes at these potentials in MEC system. In the two-chamber (2cMEC) system, different ranges of applied potentials had affected performance: hydrogen production started at below 0.7 V, peaked between 0.7 and 1.2 V and was limited by the anode above 1.2 V. Highest hydrogen production rate was achieved within 0.9 V and 1.2 V, with the contribution of bioanode supply of only 25% and external power supply of 75%. A three-chamber (3cMEC) system with a gas chamber included next to the cathode was developed to overcome pH imbalance issue and support CO2 capture. This setup enabled dissolution of CO2 gas directly into the catholyte resulting in a higher carbonate concentration (550 ± 200 mg/L) and improved pH stability. The internal resistance was 66.55 Ω due to the formation of biofilm layer on the electrodes in the system. According to the results, 3cMEC showed good potential for CO₂ dissolution to facilitate carbon capture and allow for the simultaneous hydrogen production in the same system.
Keywords
Microbial Electrosynthesis Cell, Bioanode, Biocathode, Three Chamber, Gas Chamber
Published online 5/10/2026, 4 pages
Copyright © 2026 by the author(s)
Published under license by Materials Research Forum LLC., Millersville PA, USA
Citation: Yashawini Phriya Rauichandran, Swee Su Lim, Wai Yin Wong, Mimi Hani Abu Bakar, Ebrahim Mahmoudi, Peer Mohamed, Eileen Yu, Jean Marrie, Hassan Mohamed, Study of Bioelectrode Performance in Microbial Electrolysis Cell for Clean Energy and Carbon Reduction, Materials Research Proceedings, Vol. 66, pp 30-33, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21741/9781644904152-4
The article was published as article 4 of the book Advanced Materials and Sustainable Energy Technologies
Content from this work may be used under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 license. Any further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the title of the work, journal citation and DOI.
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