PROCESS OPTIMIZATION OF MICROBIAL FUEL CELL FOR STARCH INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER TREATMENT

S.D. UPADHYAY, C.J. PATEL, B.B. PATEL

Abstract


A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio electrochemical process that utilizes the metabolic activity of microorganisms to treat wastewater and generating electricity at the same time. The starch industry generate wastewater with a significant amount of organic load, creating environmental concerns. This study explores the application of a MFC for starch industrial wastewater treatment and electricity generation. A mediator-free MFC was created with graphite electrodes, active anaerobic sludge as the microbial culture, and a salt bridge containing agar-KCl solution. The system was optimized by varying microbial culture dose (7.5%, 10%), KCl concentration (1M, 2M, 4M), and seasonal temperature (14 0C,16 0C, 28 0C). The MFC process optimization results showed that the highest COD reduction (87%) was noted with 200 mg/L (10%) microbial culture dose and 2M KCl at 28°C. In contrast, the highest electricity generation (0.6 V) was noted at 150 mg/L (7.5%) microbial culture dose and 4M KCl at 16°C. Increasing KCl concentration in the salt bridge gives improved electricity generation as well as higher microbial dose also gives enhanced COD reduction efficiency and reduced optimization period. This study offers dual benefits of MFCs for electricity generation and sustainable wastewater treatment.


Keywords


Microbial Fuel Cell, Anaerobic Culture, Salt Bridge, Electricity Generation, COD Reduction.

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