Effect of catholyte on performance of photosynthetic microbial fuel cell for wastewater treatment and energy recovery

Zia Ullah and Zeshan,

Renewable Energy, 2024, vol. 221, issue C

Abstract: The performance of photosynthetic microbial fuel cell (PMFC) was assessed for wastewater treatment and energy recovery using two different catholytes; untreated domestic wastewater (UDW) and wetland treated wastewater (WTW). The performance was investigated under continuous light and 12/12 h light/dark cycle, employing Scenedesmus sp. as a biocatalyst. The results showed that PMFC with UDW as the catholyte outperformed the WTW under both types of illumination. Under continuous illumination, the PMFC with UDW achieved a maximum working voltage 33 % higher than that of WTW. The rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and nutrient removal in the cathode chamber were significantly higher for PMFC with UDW catholyte. Maximum dissolved oxygen (DO) reached 10 and 8.4 mg/L for UDW and WTW, respectively, with corresponding algae concentrations of 5165 and 3130 mg/L. Under the light/dark cycle, both the working voltage and DO concentration exhibited a diurnal pattern. The maximum algal growth, DO and power output in UDW were higher than WTW under 12/12 h light-dark cycle; however, these values remained lower compared to continuous illumination. These results demonstrate the feasibility of PMFC for both untreated and secondary treated domestic wastewater as catholytes.

Keywords: Photosynthetic microbial fuel cell; Catholyte; Energy recovery; Wastewater treatment; Algal biomass (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:221:y:2024:i:c:s0960148123017251

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2023.119810

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