Performance of Low-Cost Microbial Fuel Cell Using Earthenware Separator

Abstract

The extensive use of fossil fuels and the associated problems of environmental pollution and global warming demand alternate renewable energy sources. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is an emerging technology which uses the chemical energy stored in the organic matter and generates society's most useful form of energy, i.e., electricity. MFC has the advantages of less sludge generation, low temperature operation, and omission of off-gas treatment. The performance of a dual-chambered low-cost MFC employing earthenware separator modified with montmorillonite was studied as a potential device for dairy wastewater treatment and simultaneous bioelectricity generation. The dual-chambered MFC with inner anodic chamber and concentric outer cathode chamber showed appreciable performance with a maximum power density of 33.44 mW/m2 normalized to anodic electrode surface area while fed with synthetic dairy wastewater having chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 1920±20 mg/L. The wastewater was treated anaerobically in the anode chamber and the effluent from the anode chamber was given aerobic treatment in the cathode chamber. The MFC has shown a maximum COD removal efficiency of 89%. The low-cost MFC showed promising performance, which can be employed as a treatment technology for organic wastewater simultaneously generating electricity.