Evaluation of Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment from Palm Oil Mill Effluent Using Single and Dual ChamberudMicrobial Fuel Cell

摘要

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) can be simultaneously used for the treatment of wastewater and generation ofudelectricity. In this study, single chamber air-cathode MFC (sMFC) and double chambered MFC (dMFC) were compared forudthe palm oil mill effluent (POME) treatment and generation of electricity while Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC – 27,853)udwas used as inoculum and POME used as substrate. The dMFC was efficient and found to be producing maximum poweruddensity of 4.2 W/m3 whereas sMFC produced a maximum power density 1.7 W/m3. Moreover, the dMFC showed higherudCOD (54%) removal when compared with sMFC (41%). The significant power generation and COD removal efficiencyudobserved in dMFC might be attributed to the microbial catalyzed and reversible electrochemical reactions occurring in theudanodic chamber and cathode chamber of dMFC. These results suggest that dMFC is efficient than sMFC in producingudelectricity as well as in treating wastewater.