Simultaneous Electricity Generation and Pollutant Removal in Nitrogen-rich Wastewater using Microbial Fuel Cells

Simultaneous electricity generation and combined carbon and nitrogen removal in wastewater using microbial fuel cells are an intriguing process. The generation of electricity from nitrogen-rich wastewater was examined using single chamber air cathode microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs). SCMFCs were fed with an artificial wastewater containing the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD): total nitrogen (N) ratio of 2.5:1.0, and operated under mesophilic batch mode. The power density increased with increasing wastewater concentration. Performance of SCMFCs with external resistances, 500 and 1,000 Omega, based on maximum power density and current was compared. The SCMFCs with 500 Omega gained higher maximum power density and current output by 12.5 and 23.3%, respectively, compared to 1,000 Omega. The COD and ammonium removal in 500 Omega condition was 81 and 98%, respectively. The findings suggested that MFC is a potential technology to treat carbon and nitrogen pollutants in wastewater, and recover electric energy at the same time. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.