Electric Generation from Carbohydrate-rich Wastewater using Air-cathode SCMFC

The influence of external resistances in the range of 10 to 1,000 Omega and carbohydrate-rich wastewater concentration on electricity generation in air-cathode single-chamber microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs) operated at pH 7.0 and 37 degrees C was examined. Enrichment of microbial seed in SCMFCs was stable with maximum current output of 0.1 mA after one month inoculation. The maximum current density, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and coulombic efficiency (CE) of 1.0 A m(-2), 85% and 20%, respectively, were achieved when Re, of 10 SI was used (1,000 mg COD L-1). The power density increased with the increase of wastewater concentration and obtained maximum value of 39.2 mW (CE=20.4%) at 3,000 mg COD L -I. The results indicated that the wastewater can be used as a substrate to produce electricity and can be treated in SCMFCs. The current outputs and wastewater concentrations displayed a strongly linear correlation in the concentration range of 125 to 3,000 mg COD 1,4 (r(2)=0.96). The current findings shows SCMFC not only simultaneously generate electricity and treat wastewater but also potentially work as a sensor device for measuring industrial wastewater concentration. (C) 2014 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.