Microbial fuel cell (MFC) represents a new method for simultaneously swine wastewater treatment and electricity generation. However, few studies revealed the high electricity generation and pollutant removal using a large-scale single-chambered MFC in treating swine wastewater. Results indicated optimal hydraulic retention time (HRT) of swine wastewater was 8 d considering the removal efficiency and the power density. Under this condition, this MFC system removed 85.62% TCOD and 73.6% NH3 as well as achieved power density of 368 mW/m2. Results also showed the maximum power density of the MFC was 382.5±10.6 mW/m2 MFC at 350 Ω. TCOD concentration in the swine wastewater was limiting factor for power output. The maximum power density was Pmax= 385 mW/m2, with a half-saturation concentration of Ks=2,050 mg/l. To our knowledge, this is the first time to demonstrate the electricity characteristics of a large-scale single-chambered MFC in treating swine wastewater.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) provides a new opportunity for the sustainable production of energy from the textile wastewater. However, limited studies revealed the high electricity generation using a single-chambered MFC in treating crystal violet (CV) containing wastewater. This study isolated an exoelectrogen Aeromonas hydrophila YC 57, inoculated to a single-chambered MFC and intended to achieve a high power output. The results showed that the removal efficiency of CV and coulombic efficiency of MFC by A. hydrophila YC 57 were achieved at 82.5±0.7% and 57.2±0.5% at initial CV concentration of 100 mg/L, respectively. The maximum power generation of MFC was 240±5.6 mW/m2. Results of cyclic voltammogram hinted the intermediate products of CV dye played roles of mediators. Toxicity studies revealed that metabolites of CV produced by A. hydrophila YC 57 were nontoxic. To our knowledge, this is the first time to demonstrate the electricity characteristics of a single-chambered MFC inoculated A. hydrophila YC 57.