Performance of a sediment microbial fuel cell for bioenergy production: Comparison of fluvial and marine sediments

Bioenergy production from sediment microbial fuel cells has gained special attention for its application as a power source for environmental sensors. A sediment microbial fuel cell is a device capable of generating energy from sediments and electrolytes present in water bodies. Numerous factors must be considered to improve cell efficiency. However, a little considered factor is the quality of the sediment that is used to feed a SMFC. This research focused on the study of sediment quality and the influence of hydrological season on the production of electrical energy. A non-divided SMFC was designed with Unidirectional Carbon Fiber as electrodes. Four SMFC were prepared for the experimental work. Two cells were fed with marine and fluvial sediments collected in the rainy season and two others with sediments, of the same origins, collected in the dry season. The electrical energy of each cell was quantified during a period of 30 days. The results showed that the season influences the production of electricity. In the rainy season, the marine sediments produce greater energy with an average of 407.83 mV. In the dry season highlighted the fluvial sediments with 700.7 mV. Power densities of 141 and 70 mW cm−2 were achieved for marine and fluvial sediments, respectively. A preliminary identification of the microbial communities was carried out for both sediments. Correlation studies showed that electrical conductivity and salinity have a positive influence on the voltage, while temperature and dissolved oxygen have no significance. •Fluvial and marine sediments from water bodies of Culiacan produce bioenergy under a microbial fuel cell approach.•The energy produced in a sediment microbial fuel cell is affected by the seasons.•The highest electric potential values were obtained in the dry season.•In the rainy season marine sediments produce more energy, while in the dry season fluvial sediments reach the highest values.•E.coli, Clostridium sp. and Vibrio sp. were identified as possible exoelectrogenic microorganisms in the sediments.