Electricity Generation and Community Wastewater Treatment by Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)

The attractive solution to the pressing issues of energy production and community wastewater treatment was using of Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs). The objective of this research was to study the efficiency of electricity generation and community wastewater treatment of MFCs. This study used an experimental method completely randomized design (CRD), which consisted of two treatment factors (4x5 factorial design). The first factor was different solution containing organic matter (T) and consisting of 4 level factors including T-1 (tap water), T-2 (tap water with soil), T-3 (50 % V/V community wastewater with soil), and T-4 (100% community wastewater with soil). The second factor was the time (t), consisting of 5 level factors t(1) (day 1), t(2) (day 2), t(3) (day 3), t(4) (day 4), and t(5) (day 5). There were 4 experimental models depending on containing organic matter (T-1-T-4). The parameter measured consisted of Open Circuit Voltage (OCV), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Total Dissolve Solid (TDS), acidity (pH), Electric Conductivity (EC) and number of bacteria. Data were analysed by ANOVA, followed by Duncan test. The results of this study showed that, the T 3 was the highest voltage at 0.816 V (P<0.05) and T-4, T-2, and T-1 were 0.800, 0.797 and 0.747 V, respectively. The T-3 was the lowest COD at 24.120 mg/L and T-4 was 38.067 mg/L (P<0.05). The best model for electricity generation and community wastewater treatment by Microbial Fuel Cells was T-3. This model generated highest voltage at 0.816 V, and reduction of COD at 46.215%.