Effects of mevastatin on electricity generation in microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Mevastatin is one of the pollutants in wastewater that is difficult to biodegrade. In this study, the issue of mevastatin biodegradation and simultaneous electricity generation using microbial fuel cells, which is one of the current sustainable technologies, was investigated. Effects of mevastatin on the performance of single-chamber air-cathode microbial fuel cells were investigated. On average, 0.2 volts of electricity was generated in microbial fuel cells in the presence of 5.6 µM mevastatin, while mevastatin caused an important increase in coulombic efficiency, from 35±5% to 49±8. More than 90% of the mevastatin was removed in microbial fuel cells in approximately four days. In conclusion, mevastatin that causes toxicity in wastewaters could potentially be treated using microbial fuel cells. Meanwhile, mevastatin may enhance electricity generation either through improved electron transfer or suppressed methanogenesis during microbial fuel cell operations.