Algerian Journal of Renewable Energy and Sustainable Development
Volume 8, Numéro 1, Pages 62-71
2026-06-15
Charcoal Ash As An Alternative Ph Buffer In Single-chamber Microbial Fuel Cells: Effects On Open Circuit Voltage And Substrate Ph Dynamics
Authors : Saad Asia A. . Ndiritu Hiram . Hawi Meshack . Mukhongo Manyonge Lawrence .
Abstract
The escalating cost of commercial pH buffer reagents remains a critical impediment to the large-scale commercialization of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology. This study evaluates charcoal cooking ash as a low-cost, locally available alternative pH buffer in single-chamber MFCs fed with domestic sewage substrate. Two identical single-chamber MFCs were operated at 35 °C for seven days using carbon rod anodes and aluminium rod cathodes. Ash was added incrementally in 2 g doses at 10-minute intervals, and open circuit voltage (OCV) was continuously monitored. In the ash-supplemented cell, OCV increased progressively from 722 mV (Day 1) to a peak of 986 mV (Day 5), stabilising at 909 mV at Day 7. Substrate pH rose monotonically from 7.82 (0 g ash) to a maximum of 11.63 (180 g), before stabilising at pH 10.98 at the buffering saturation point of 324 g. In contrast, the unsupplemented control exhibited a sustained voltage decline from 737 mV to 543 mV over the same period. These results demonstrate that charcoal ash exerts a dual buffering and ion-conductivity-enhancing function, sustaining favourable cathodic conditions and extending the operational lifetime of the cell. The findings propose charcoal ash as a viable, zero-cost buffer substitute with competitive electrochemical performance relative to conventional commercial buffers, warranting further investigation for decentralised wastewater treatment applications.
Keywords
Single chamber microbial fuel cell; Charcoal ash; Cost effective pH buffer; Open circuit voltage; Electrochemical reactions.
Les articles similaires
Madi Djamel
.
pages 50-55.
منوبية شودي
.
سليم العايب
.
ص 146-183.
Filali Billel
.
Dr. Maameri Fatima
.
pages 1223-1229.
Mostefaoui M.
.
Mazari H.
.
Khelifi S.
.
Dabou R
.
pages 73-76.
Fadili S.
.
Hartiti B.
.
El Khalidi Z.
.
Kotbi A.
.
Ridah A.
.
Thevenin P.
.
pages 1001-1011.
