Abstract:
Wastewater is recognized as making a major contribution to environmental pollution. Current
wastewater treatment technologies have energy- and cost-related limitations and therefore wastewater
recovery is difficult to achieve and sustain. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been researched and are now
recognized as an innovative technology that offers sustainable solutions for distributed power systems and
energy positive wastewater treatment overcoming environmental problems. This is particularly the case in
isolated areas that are supplied with biosensors, bio hydrogen production, as well as in-situ power sources
for bioremediation and wastewater treatment. This study explores the use of a single-chamber air-cathode
microbial fuel cell (SCMFC) having a 0.5 mg/cm2 platinum catalyst cathode treating simulated domestic
wastewater. Two similar air-cathode SCMFCs were operated for simultaneous electricity production and
wastewater treatment. Operation with a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 24 h and feed COD
concentration of 0.5 g COD/L-day produced the highest current density of 294.4 mA/m2 and 108.31 mW/m2
power density. Overall, the COD removal at each HRT was high, between 71 – 85%. It is envisaged that
there is scope to develop a novel, cost-effective SCMFC design for achieving simultaneous electricity
generation and wastewater treatment.
