Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment Associated with Renewable Energy Generation in Microbial Fuel Cell Based on Mobilized Electroactive Biofilm on Zeolite Bearer

Abstract

In this study, a novel application of lab-scale dual chambered air-cathode microbial fuel cell (MFC) has been developed for simultaneous bio-treatment of real pharmaceutical wastewater and renewable electricity generation. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) was provided with zeolite-packed anodic compartment and a cation exchange membrane (CEM) to separate the anode and cathode. The performance of the proposed MFC was evaluated in terms of COD removal and power generation based on the activity of the bacterial consortium in the biofilm mobilized on zeolite bearer. The MFC was fueled with real pharmaceutical wastewater having an initial COD concentration equal to 800 mg/L and inoculated with anaerobic aged sludge. Results demonstrated that the COD removal efficiency, power density and current density were 66%, 2.4 mW/m² and 10 mA/m², respectively.