Using a real fermentation effluent from corn stover, this study attempted to exceed established performance metrics of MECs. The MECs reached average current densities of 17.9 A/m<sup>2</sup> and hydrogen productivities of 20.2 L/L-day at an organic loading rate of 30 grams of chemical oxygen demand per liter of anode volume per day (g/L-day), successfully representing the largest productivities of MECs on complex feedstocks to date. High fractions (&gt;70%) of total organic content as measured by chemical oxygen demand were removed within 72 hours of operation at 10 g/L-day. High Performance Liquid chromatography (HPLC) was also used to characterize the effluent before and after use in MECs. The effluent had a large fraction of its total organic content made up of xylose, arabinose, galactose, lactate, acetate, and glycerol, explaining the relative ease and rate of degradation observed. While not always possible, ideal complex waste streams for MECs should share chemical characteristics with the corn stover effluent used here. Anode flow rate effects on MEC performance were also tested by pulsing high flow rate into the MECs periodically. The study showed that frequent pulsing at lower baseline flow rates could improve performance but was not as effective as operating cells at higher continuous flowrates. Electrical efficiency was higher for MECs that were pulsed frequently at low flow rates than those operated at high continuous flowrates, suggesting that pulsing could be used as an alternative flow rate scheme to balance performance with energy efficiency. This study further supports prospective commercially feasible MEC technologies, however additional considerations such as scale up and managing mass transfer limitations will still need to be overcome before such devices are commercially deployable.

Using corn stover fermentation products for high hydrogen productivities in microbial electrolysis cells: Step towards commercialization?

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.