Examination of microbial fuel cell start-up times with domestic wastewater and additional amendments

► Wastewater amended with acetate or fumarate but not glucose or Fe(III) enhanced the MFC startup. ► MFCs produced 50-103 mW/m2 when amendments were removed, 91mW/m2 with unamended wastewater. ► Startup was delayed with addition of a PBS buffer. ► Only domestic wastewater is needed during startup to produce stable long term operation.