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Use of Mine Tailings as a Substrate in Microbial Fuel Cells for Electric Energy Generation

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Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Clean Energy and Electrical Systems (CEES 2023)

Part of the book series: Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering ((LNEE,volume 1058))

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Abstract

In order to find an alternative for the reuse of mining effluents and contribute with eco-friendly technologies that cover the high demand for energy, this research evaluated the use of mine tailings as a substrate for the generation of electrical energy through microbial fuel cells. (MFC). A single chamber microbial fuel cell with air cathode was constructed, using a copper foil as anode electrode and a graphite plate as cathode. For the characterization of the cells, physicochemical parameters such as voltage, electric current, pH, turbidity and electrical conductivity were measured for 30 days and at room temperature (18 ± 2.2 ºC). The voltage, current and turbidity, reached peak values of 0.65 ± 0.02 V, 1.83 ± 0.04 mA and 981.5 ± 13.44 NTU respectively, in addition the mine tailings operated at an acid pH and conductivity values greater than 146 mS/cm. These results demonstrated that it is possible to use mining tailings as a substrate in microbial fuel cells for sustainable electric power generation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universidad César Vallejo, Trujillo, 13001, Peru

    F. Silva-Palacios & A. Salvador-Salinas

  2. Vicerrectorado de Investigación, Universidad Autónoma del Perú, Lima, 15842, Peru

    S. Rojas-Flores, M. De La Cruz-Noriega & R. Nazario-Naveda

  3. Universidad Tecnológica del Perú, Trujillo, 13001, Peru

    M. Gallozzo-Cardenas

  4. Grupo de Investigación en Ciencias Aplicadas Y Nuevas Tecnologías, Universidad Privada del Norte, Trujillo, 13007, Peru

    D. Delfin-Narciso

  5. Professional Academic School of Human Medicine, Universidad Norbert Wiener, Lima, 15046, Peru

    Félix Díaz

Authors
  1. F. Silva-Palacios
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  2. A. Salvador-Salinas
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  3. S. Rojas-Flores
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  4. M. De La Cruz-Noriega
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  5. R. Nazario-Naveda
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  6. M. Gallozzo-Cardenas
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  7. D. Delfin-Narciso
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  8. Félix Díaz
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to F. Silva-Palacios .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Ontario Tech University, Oshawa, ON, Canada

    Hossam Gaber

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Silva-Palacios, F. et al. (2023). Use of Mine Tailings as a Substrate in Microbial Fuel Cells for Electric Energy Generation. In: Gaber, H. (eds) Proceedings of the 5th International Conference on Clean Energy and Electrical Systems. CEES 2023. Lecture Notes in Electrical Engineering, vol 1058. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3888-9_24

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-99-3888-9_24

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-99-3887-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-99-3888-9

  • eBook Packages: EnergyEnergy (R0)

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