Bioelectricity production from acidic food waste leachate using microbial fuel cells: Effect of microbial inocula

► Electricity was produced from acidic food waste leachate using microbial fuel cells (MFCs). ► Domestic wastewater, activated sludge and anaerobic sludge were compared as MFC co-inoculum. ► Anaerobic sludge was the best due to the enrichment of fermentative/electrogenic bacteria. ► Food waste leachate alone could already serve as a MFC inoculum for bioelectricity production.