Mineralization of 4-chlorophenol and analysis of bacterial community in microbial fuel cells

4-Chlorophenol (4-CP) was co-metabolically degraded and mineralized with the presence of glucose in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), achieving a degradation rate of 0.58 ± 0.036 mg/L-h (7.2 ± 0.5 mg/g VSS-h) with an electricity generation of 5.4 ± 0.4 W/m3 at an initial 4-CP concentration of 25 mg/L. Compared to the open circuit controls, current generation accelerated the removal of 4-CP. Coulombic efficiency decreased from 30.3 ± 2.9% at an initial 4- CP concentration of 5 mg/L to 6.3 ± 0.9% at 40 mg/L. 4-CP was degraded via the formation of phenol, which was further mineralized. Dominant bacteria most similar to both the exoelectrogenic and electrotrophic uncultured Desulfovibrio, the exoelectrogenic and recalcitrant degrader of uncultured Desulfobulbus, and the exoelectrogenic uncultured Microbacterium were identified in the biofilms. These results demonstrate that 4-CP mineralization using MFCs may be a promising process for remediation of water contaminated with 4-CP as well as for power generation.