Electricity production from gelatin wastewater using single-chamber microbial fuel cells

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the performance of electricity production from gelatin wastewater in a single chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). The treatment of MFCs using effective microorganisms (EM4) with concentration 0% (F0), 1.25% (F1), 2.5% (F2), and 5% (F3). Experimental results showed the voltage, current, and resistance in F1 were better than to other treatments. The best treatment of BOD (20.91±0.95 mg/L) and COD (81.64±0.01 mg/L) values with concentration 1.25% EM4 (F1). The higher concentration of EM4 has given lower of TAN values (3.24±0.01 mg/L for F0, 1.69±0.39 mg/L for F1, 0.73±0.44 mg/L for F2, and 0.24±0.11 mg/L for F3). The pH values were not significantly different in all treatment (7.36±0,02 for F0, 7.34±0.02 for F1, 7.55±0.01 for F2, and 7.11±0.01 for F3). The temperature of all the treatment were 25.8°C. The best performance of electricity production was the treatment with concentration 1.25% EM4 (F1) because in all parameters give the best results, except resistance.