Synchronized Wastewater Treatment along with Electrons Recovery using Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

The microbial fuel cell (MFC) was used to synchronize wastewater treatment with recovery of electric energy. This appears to give a potentially attractive alternative to traditional microbial fuel cell. This work focuses on a graphene oxide coated anode, and double-chamber MFC, with internal volume of 50ml of each compartment, operating in anerobic environment. The MFC was fed with urine as substrates. This study evaluates the MFC behaviour, in terms of COD, cyclic voltammetry and polarization curves. The cell has 13.4% treatment or COD removal efficiency, which shows that the microbes are metabolizing the organic matter present in the urine. In cyclic voltammetery results one major redox systems splits in to two redox system with time, which demonstrates that microbes are generating electrons. The system has 292 Ω an internal resistance and 0.19 mW/cm2 maximum power density for Graphene Oxide coated SST mesh anode. The Coulombic efficiency is found to be 73%, which shows the good result for electron recovery. In general, low COD content enhances coulombic efficiency.