Modified bio-electrodes in microbial fuel cells for sewage treatments and the remediation of oil contamination

Minimising the consumption of fossil fuels is a major challenge that the whole world must be engaged in. New technologies are required for both environmental remediation and energy recycling due to the damage ctreated by pollution caused by fossil fuels. Newly developed microbial bio-electrochemical systems provide an innovative strategy in balancing the demands of economic growth and environmental protection since it produces alternative energy sources and removes toxic pollutants. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have attracted much interest in recent years since they provide an integrated pathway to produce green electricity and successfully treat wastewater simultaneously. However, the low output power density compared with many other energy sources limits the industrial application of MFCs. The properties of electrode materials, which may decide the efficiency of the extracellular electron-transfer rate, play a vital role in the electricity generation process. This thesis explores new ways to synthesise biocompatible electrodes for anodic reactions and concentrate on biochemistry and electrochemistry mechanisms that are involved in the modification of electrodes. While a few reports of MFCs that were used for the remediation of oil pollution have been published, our knowledge is still limited regarding power density for energy recovery. We aim to develop a type of MFC, that can produce clean energy while biodegrade TPHs at the same time so that the pressures of energy shortages are released, and to promote effective oil contaminant remediation. Here we concentrate on the principles of energy generation during the degradation and detoxification of oil-contaminated water.