Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain NSB4 bacteria for treating wastewater for fuel cell application

Abstract

Pollutants in water bodies come from a variety of sources, including but not limited to domestic, industrial, municipal etc. Water contamination and energy shortages are global problems that require significant attention. Therefore, it is essential to synthesize sustainable energy and transport waste-free water to the water reception points. Concerns about energy shortages and water contamination have prompted the development of microbial fuel cell technology. Microorganisms are used by electrochemical cell nature of MFCs to anaerobically digest the organic wastes and produce energy. Focusing on a single-chambered mediator-less MFCs operating in batch mode, this study assesses the efficacy of a novel bacterial strain Bacillus amyloliquefaciens NSB4, as an exoelectrogen in terms of electricity yield and waste elimination. Results from the strain's electrochemical characterisation showed a maximum current density of 0.4804 A/m2 and a power density of 41.281 mW/m2. Additionally, the columbic efficiency (72%) and COD reduction efficiency (90.46%) were also remarkably high. Growth of the anodic biofilm during the MFC process displayed the crucial performance of the exoelectrogen used. SEM images of the biofilm are also presented in the study.

Keywords

• microbial fuel cells
• mediator-free mfc
• separator
• biofilm
• waste-water treatment