Coal tar wastewater treatment and electricity production using a membrane-less tubular microbial fuel cell

We report on treatment of wastewater from a coal tar refinery and electricity production using a mediator-less, membrane-less microbial fuel cell (MFC). pH in the MFC decreased from 7.8 to 7.0 during a 24-day period, whereas 88% of chemical oxygen demand, 57% of sulfate, and 41% of sulfur were removed. The concentration of chemical elements such as aluminum, silver, barium, copper, iron, molybdenum, sulfur, and strontium also decreased. Removal of phenol and 2-methyl phenol exceeded 90%. Benzonitrile and naphthalene were not detected after the MFC treatment. Maximum voltage output and power density of the MFC were 543 mV and 4.5 mW/m2, respectively.