Nanostructured Polypyrrole as Cathode Catalyst for Fe (III) Removal in Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell

Polypyrrole nanoparticle (Ppy-NP) modified carbon cloth (CC) was fabricated as the cathode for single chamber membrane less microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) for bio-energy production and iron removal using Shewanella putrefaciens as a microbial catalyst. The performance of CC coated with Ppy was compared with that of pure platinum (Pt), the conventional cathode catalyst. The cyclic voltammetry (CV), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and Tafel were done to study the electro catalytic activity of modified cathode and showed lower charge transfer resistance and high conductivity. The systems were served with wastewater containing the heavy metal, Iron and the maximum power density and coulombic efficiency obtained with PPy NP was found to be similar to 190 +/- 4 mW/m(2) and 10.1 +/- 2% respectively, whereas the measured values for Pt catalyst were 278 +/- 4 mW/m(2) and 13.3 +/- 3% respectively. The removal efficiency of both Iron and TOC were found to be greater than 80% for both the electrodes. The results of CC-Ppy show a noticeable comparison with CC-Pt and indicate its possibility of use in MFC as low cost cathode catalyst.