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Electrode Materials and Their Effects on Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Cell

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Wastewater Management and Technologies

Part of the book series: Water and Wastewater Management ((WWWE))

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Abstract

Wastewater is an unwelcome by-product of industrial processes that has no economic value. Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) are two parameters affecting the water quality. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is bio-electrochemical systems that enable direct energy harvesting from the wastewater via microbial activity while also oxidizing organic matter in the wastewater. MFC-based wastewater treatment can reduce environmental pollution parameters such as BOD and COD. MFC uses microorganisms’ catalytic activity to convert chemical energy to electricity. Bacteria will degrade the organic matter in the waste, and their catalytic activity will be able to reduce the contaminants from wastewater. This technology is very efficient at lowering BOD and COD levels. With the power generated about 4465 mW/m2, the COD and BOD levels of tempeh waste lowered by up to 88.9% and 34.0%, respectively (Sejati 2020). As an environmental technology that can reduce COD and BOD levels in wastewater and generate electrical energy, the amount of electricity generated in this system is very small. The amount of waste degradation and electrical energy produced is influenced using electrodes. Modifying the electrode structure with polymers such as polyaniline can boost electrical energy generation by up to 63.6% (Yin 2019).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Bio-Chemical Engineering and Technology, Sirindhorn International Institute of Technology, Khlong Nueng, Thailand

    Andika Wahyu Afrianto & Sandhya Babel

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  1. Andika Wahyu Afrianto
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  2. Sandhya Babel
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Correspondence to Sandhya Babel .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Environ. Engineering, Davutpasa Campus, Yıldız Technical University, Esenler, Istanbul, Türkiye

    EyĂĽp Debik

  2. Institute for Ecological and Sustainable Chemistry, TU Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Niedersachsen, Germany

    MĂĽfit Bahadir

  3. Exceed Excellence Centre, LeichtweiĂź Institute for Hydroengineeri, Braunschweig, Germany

    Andreas Haarstrick

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Afrianto, A.W., Babel, S. (2023). Electrode Materials and Their Effects on Electricity Generation and Wastewater Treatment in a Microbial Fuel Cell. In: Debik, E., Bahadir, M., Haarstrick, A. (eds) Wastewater Management and Technologies. Water and Wastewater Management. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-36298-9_5

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