Treatment of Sugar Industry Effluent using Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Industrial wastewater presents a potential hazard to natural water system. This wastewater contains organic matter, which is toxic to the various life forms of the system. Wastewaters produced from Sugar Industries pose several problems. These wastewaters contain relatively high levels of suspended solids and soluble organics, many of which are recalcitrant. This study was designed a waste water treatment plant with an aim at minimizing and removing of COD, BOD, dissolved solids and toxic compounds, before it releases into a water body. In the present study efficiency of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) in removing contaminants was determined. It was found that MFC is much effective and cheaper method for treating waste water and for the removal of TDS, TSS, BOD, COD, Sulphates and Chlorides, Oil and Grease. Batch type aerobic biological treatment plant was constructed and operated for Sugar industry waste water treatment. The hydraulic retention time was 12 days. The treated water samples were collected for every 72 hours and tested for its pH, TSS, TDS, COD, BOD, Sulphates and Chlorides, Oil and Grease to evaluate the efficiency of the plant. Experiments are performed in batch reactor in optimized condition. The degradation of waste water has been investigated in terms of reduction in COD. Various process parameters like pH, TSS, TDS, BOD, Sulphates, Chlorides and Oil and Grease were varied and their effects on MFC of Sugar industry waste water have been analyzed. The results obtained were quite appreciable as it reduced COD to 94.5% and a small amount of 110mV has also been produced.