Simultaneous Treatment of Nitrogen-Rich Wastewater and ElectricityGeneration using Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells

Simultaneous electricity generation and combined carbon and nitrogen removal in wastewater using microbial fuel cells are an intriguing process. The generation of electricity from nitrogen-rich wastewater was examined using single chamber air cathode microbial fuel cells (SCMFCs). SCMFCs were fed with an artificial wastewater containing the initial chemical oxygen demand (COD): nitrogen (N) ratio of 4:1, and operated under mesophilic batch mode. Performance of SCMFCs with external resistances 1,000 Ω and COD concentration 500, 1000, and 2,500 mg L-1 based on maximum power density and current output was compared. The SCMFCs with COD concentration 1,000 mg L-1 gained higher maximum power density and current output by 0.252 mA and 101.92 mW/m2, respectively. The COD and ammonium removal in 1,000 mg L-1 condition was 79.0 and 97.9%, respectively. The findings suggested that MFC is a potential technology to treat carbon and nitrogen pollutants in wastewater, and recover electric energy at the same time.