Microbial fuel cell for effluent treatment and sustainable power generation

ABSTRACT

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is an attractive and sustainable option for the conversion of effluent organics into bioelectricity. In the present study, vertically configured MFC reactors have been designed to simulate a real wastewater treatment plant so that enhanced degradation of effluent organics and sustained electrical power generation could be achieved. Anaerobic biomass and tannery effluent was used as anolyte, KMnO4 (39 mM) in phosphate buffer (700 mM) was used as catholyte. The concept of diligent mechanical disintegration has been introduced to increase the microbial activity, intended to enhance both degradation of effluent organics and generation of electricity. The operating parameters of MFC were optimized by RSM, implemented in batch studies and further extended for continuous operation. In batch studies the COD removal of 72% and 85%, with a power generation of 0.21 and 0.32 mW was achieved in 20 days HRT, whereas in continuous studies the COD removal was 57% and 72.5% in HRT of 1 day, and the power generation was 0.34 and 0.57 mW for control and experimental runs, respectively. Thus, the continuous mode of operation was beneficial than batch mode. Further, the generated power, illumination of LEDs could be demonstrated.

KEYWORDS:

• Microbial fuel cell
• anaerobic biomass
• tannery effluent
• mechanical disintegration
• COD removal
• power generation

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank CSIR-ZERIS, WP-27 (CSC 0103) for funding this project. Thanks also to Director, CSIR-CLRI for his encouragement and interest in this work.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Divyalakshmi Palanisamy

Dr. Divyalakshmi Palanaisamy did B.Tech (Biotechnology) from Anna University of Technology, Tiruchirappalli, M.Tech (Environmental Science and Technology) from AC Tech, Anna University, Chennai, and completed her PhD in Department of Chemical Engineering, CSIR- Central Leather Research Institute, Anna University, Chennai, India. Her areas of research interest are excess sludge reduction in biological wastewater treatment, anaerobic digestion and electrochemical engineering, She  has  published  her research work  in 6 international journals to her credit. 

Lajapathi Rai Chockalingam

Dr. Chockalingam Lajapathi Rai is working as Senior principal Scientist in Chemical Engineering department, CSIR- Central Leather Research, Chennai, India. He has obtained doctoral degree (interdisciplinary) from Alagappa university, Karaikudi, India. He has 30 years R&D experience in the field of process development and scale up studies.His areas of interest are wet sludge mechanical disintegration, wastewater treatment, microbial fuel cell technology. He has published more than 30 papers in peer reviewed international journals and presented his work  in many  national and international conferences.

Devaraj Murugan

Dr. D. Murugan is a senior scientist from the Department of Chemical Engineering/ Chemical & Biological Pilot Plants, CSIR- Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, India. He currently pursues research in the areas such as Wastewater treatment, Wealth from waste, Waste recycling, Polymer nanocomposites, Process optimization, Process scale-up etc. He has completed his doctorate from Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai in July 2008. He also has rich industrial R&D experience in the field of upstream oil & gas services.