Performance evaluation of cost-effective two-chamber microbial fuel cell for simultaneous domestic wastewater treatment and bioenergy generation

Abstract

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable solution for addressing sanitation challenges by simultaneously treating wastewater and generating bioenergy. In this study, a two-chamber MFC has been constructed and employed to treat domestic wastewater while recovering energy. The MFC operates by converting the chemical energy stored in organic matter into electrical energy through electrochemical reactions facilitated by microorganisms. Key physiochemical and microbiological parameters of untreated and treated wastewater have been analyzed, including chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS), and microbial counts. Significant reductions are observed post-treatment, with BOD reduced by 99% (from 684 mg/L to 118 mg/L), COD by 92% (from 444 mg/L to 266 mg/L), and microbial count by 74.68%. Furthermore, the removal efficiencies for TDS, TSS, and Total Solids (TS) were 84% (1051 mg/L to 589 mg/L), 95% (861 mg/L to 136 mg/L), and 90% (1952 mg/L to 725 mg/L), respectively. The constructed MFC also demonstrated energy recovery potential, generating a maximum power output of 1774 mW/h. These findings highlight the dual benefits of MFC technology as an environmentally friendly approach for wastewater purification and renewable energy production.