Electrochemical Insight into the Use of Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioelectricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment
Asif Nadeem Tabish,
Iqra Farhat,
Muneeb Irshad,
Muhammad Asif Hussain,
Muhammad Usman,
Tariq Nawaz Chaudhary,
Yasser Fouad,
Sohaib Raza,
Waqar Muhammad Ashraf,
Jaroslaw Krzywanski
Affiliations
Asif Nadeem Tabish
Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore (New Campus), Lahore 39021, Pakistan
Iqra Farhat
Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore (New Campus), Lahore 39021, Pakistan
Muneeb Irshad
Department of Physics, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Muhammad Asif Hussain
Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Engineering, University of Punjab, Lahore 54590, Pakistan
Muhammad Usman
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Tariq Nawaz Chaudhary
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore (RCET Campus), Gujranwala 52250, Pakistan
Yasser Fouad
Department of Applied Mechanical Engineering, College of Applied Engineering, Muzahimiyah Branch, King Saud University, P.O. Box 800, Riyadh 11421, Saudi Arabia
Sohaib Raza
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Engineering and Technology Lahore, Lahore 54890, Pakistan
Waqar Muhammad Ashraf
Sargent Centre for Process Systems Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE, UK
Jaroslaw Krzywanski
Faculty of Science and Technology, Jan Dlugosz University in Czestochowa, Armii Krajowej 13/15, 42-200 Czestochowa, Poland
Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology is anticipated to be a practical alternative to the activated sludge technique for treating domestic and industrial effluents. The relevant literature mainly focuses on developing the systems and materials for maximum power output, whereas understanding the fundamental electrochemical characteristics is inadequate. This experimental study uses a double-chamber MFC having graphite electrodes and an anion-exchange membrane to investigate the electrochemical process limitations and the potential of bioelectricity generation and dairy effluent treatment. The results revealed an 81% reduction in the chemical oxygen demand (COD) in 10 days of cell operation, with an initial COD loading of 4520 mg/L. The third day recorded the highest open circuit voltage of 396 mV, and the maximum power density of 36.39 mW/m2 was achieved at a current density of 0.30 A/m2. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis disclosed that the activation polarization of the aerated cathode was the primary factor causing the cell’s resistance, followed by the ohmic and anodic activation overpotentials.
