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 and Jaroslaw Krzywanski ()
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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

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: 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/m 2 was achieved at a current density of 0.30 A/m 2 . 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.

Keywords: microbial fuel cells; EIS; biofilm; bioelectricity; wastewater treatment (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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