Bioelectricity generation using two chamber microbial fuel cell treating wastewater from food processing

• Published in: Enzyme and microbial technology 2013-05, Vol.52 (6-7), p.352-357
• Main Authors: Mansoorian, Hossein Jafari, Mahvi, Amir Hossein, Jafari, Ahmad Jonidi, Amin, Mohammad Mehdi, Rajabizadeh, Ahmad, Khanjani, Narges
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Alkalinity; ammonia; biochemical oxygen demand; Bioelectric Energy Sources; Bioelectricity; Bioreactors; Biotechnology - methods; catalysts; chemical oxygen demand; Conservation of Energy Resources; effluents; Electricity; Electrodes; electrolytes; energy conversion; food industry; food processing; Food processing bioconversion; Food-Processing Industry - methods; Industrial Waste; methodology; Microbial fuel cell; microbial fuel cells; operating costs; Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods; Waste Water - analysis; Waste Water - microbiology; wastewater; Wastewater treatment; Water Purification - methods
• ISSN: 0141-0229; 1879-0909
• DOI: 10.1016/j.enzmictec.2013.03.004

•MFC used in present study is of two-compartment type that was separated by PEM.•Effluent from the anode compartment was tested for COD, BOD5, NH3, P, TSS, VSS, etc.•The maximum current density and power production were measured 527mA/m2 and 230mW/m2.•The maximum removal efficiency of TSS, VSS, SO4 and ALK was 68, 62, 30 and 58, respectively.•The maximum removal efficiency of COD, BOD5, NH3, P was 86, 79, 73, 18%, respectively. Electricity generation from microbial fuel cells which treat food processing wastewater was investigated in this study. Anaerobic anode and aerobic cathode chambers were separated by a proton exchange membrane in a two-compartment MFC reactor. Buffer solutions and food industry wastewater were used as electrolytes in the anode and cathode chambers, respectively. The produced voltage and current intensity were measured using a digital multimeter. Effluents from the anode compartment were tested for COD, BOD5, NH3, P, TSS, VSS, SO4 and alkalinity. The maximum current density and power production were measured 527mA/m2 and 230mW/m2 in the anode area, respectively, at operation organic loading (OLR) of 0.364g COD/l.d. At OLR of 0.182g COD/l.d, maximum voltage and columbic efficiency production were recorded 0.475V and 21%, respectively. Maximum removal efficiency of COD, BOD5, NH3, P, TSS, VSS, SO4 and alkalinity were 86, 79, 73, 18, 68, 62, 30 and 58%, respectively. The results indicated that catalysts and mediator-less microbial fuel cells (CAML-MFC) can be considered as a better choice for simple and complete energy conversion from the wastewater of such industries and also this could be considered as a new method to offset wastewater treatment plant operating costs.