Bioelectricity generation and biofilm analysis from sewage sources using microbial fuel cell

Six species of exoelectrogenic bacteria were identified in this work that degrade organic matter in wastewater derived from sewage, and produce electrons from their cell surface to electrodes, Pt-Catalyst and AC-Catalyst MFCs were used to evaluate wastewater performance. Pt-Cat system generated power density of 790 +/- 30 mW/m(2) with a COD removal of 75%, and a reduced BOD content up to 120 +/- 20 mg/l, AC-Cat system generated 430 +/- 35 mW/m(2) with reduced COD of 160 +/- 20 mg/l and a BOD removal up to 63%. 16S rDNA PCR revealed the electricity generating microbes present in the wastewater were predominantly of the Firmicutes phyla, along with Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, further, power generation was stable in both MFCs, these results indicate biofilm communities in mixed cultures do not go for colony competition, and in turn has a symbiosis prospect for colonization, contamination removal and bioelectricity production.