MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF WASTEWATER FOR ELECTRICITY GENERATION AND SIMULTANEOUSLY REMOVED POLLUTANT

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy during substrate oxidation with the aid of microorganisms that act as biocatalysts. The energy contained in organic matter is converted to useful electrical power. An MFC operates as electrons from the microorganisms transfer from a reduced electron donor to an electron acceptor at a higher electrochemical potential. The aims of the study are to determine the most efficient wastewater source that can generate the highest rate of electricity production by using MFCs and to determine the removal rate of carbon and nitrogen in wastewater by using MFCs. The three different wastewater samples used were activated sludge, palm oil mill effluent (POME) and leachate from food waste. The highest rate of voltage generation is achieved when the MFC was operated with leachate (0.455 V), followed by POME (0.444 V) and activated sludge (0.396 V). However, based on the study of the graph pattern generated, activated sludge provided the most consistent record in terms of electricity generation. The highest efficiency of COD removal is achieved by activated sludge (37.5 %), followed by leachate (6.11 %). The activated sludge has also shown the highest efficiency in terms of nitrogen removal (65.28 %), followed by POME (48.12 %) and leachate (25.15 %).

Keywords

• MFC
• Electricity generation
• Activated sludge
• POME
• Leachate