Potentiality of petrochemical wastewater as substrate in microbial fuel cell

Abstract

The petrochemical wastewater (PCW) from acrylic acid plant possesses very high chemical oxygen demand (COD) due to presence of acrylic acid along with other organic acids. The treatment of PCW by conventional methods is energy intensive. The treatment of PCW with concurrent power generation by employing microbial fuel cell (MFC) could be a potential alternative solving the problem of energy and environment. The goal of the present paper is to evaluate the viability of treating the wastewater using anaerobic sludge as biocatalyst in a dual- chamber MFC for simultaneous power generation and wastewater treatment. This study demonstrates that anaerobic sludge (AS) could work as a biocatalyst producing maximum power density of 0.75 W/m3at current density and open circuit voltage (OCV) of 412 mA/m2 and 0.45 V respectively using PCW with an initial COD of 45,000 mg/L. The COD removal efficiency and the columbic efficiency (CE) were found 40% and 13.11%, respectively. The mechanism of electron transfer in the anode was analyzed by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and the resistances across the electrode/biofilm/solution interface were investigated by employing impedance spectroscopy (EIS). The current work proves the capability of the MFC for the treatment of acrylic acid plant PCW using anaerobic sludge (AS) as biocatalyst.

Prospects for Combined Applications of Nanostructured Catalysts and Biocatalysts for Elimination of Hydrocarbon Pollutants

“…Through oxidation in the MFCs systems with activated sludge, bioelectricity was generated and used in the cathode chamber [82]. The petrochemical wastewater from an acrylic acid planet with a high COD value has been investigated as a substrate for generating electricity in a dual-chamber of MFC with anaerobic sludge as a sample of BCs [83].…”

Bioremediation of Contaminated Diesel and Bioelectricity Generation Using Marine Bacterial Consortium Integrated with Microbial Fuel Cell

“…The data obtained showed that this bacterium can produce a maximum voltage of 355 mV in MFC during the process of treating oil refinery wastewater [44]. Sarmin et al [45], conducted a study where they utilized petrochemical wastewater to generate electricity using a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) system. The results indicated that this system was capable of producing a maximum voltage of 450 mV.…”

Recent progress in microbial fuel cells using substrates from diverse sources

“…Similar to other wastewaters, it is crucial to treat petroleum wastewater with a high COD in an energy-efficient manner [ 160 , 161 ]. The efficacy of anaerobic sludge as the MFC inoculum for petroleum wastewater from an acrylic acid plant was evaluated in a double-chamber MFC [ 162 ]. The MFC shows a PD max of 0.75 W m −2 , CD max of 412 mA m −2 (after seven days), maximum output voltage of 0.45V, CE efficiency of 13.11% (after ten days), and COD removal of 40%.…”

“…The MFC shows a PD max of 0.75 W m −2 , CD max of 412 mA m −2 (after seven days), maximum output voltage of 0.45V, CE efficiency of 13.11% (after ten days), and COD removal of 40%. The study demonstrates the use of anaerobic sludge-based MFC to treat petroleum wastewater [ 162 ]. In another study, petroleum refinery wastewater was used to generate electricity.…”