Using watermelon rind and nitrite-containing wastewater for electricity production in a membraneless biocathode microbial fuel cell. (20th July 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Yunlong; Xu, Peng; Dong, Sijia; Yu, Yang; Chen, Huan; Xiao, Jibo
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 307(2021)
• Publication Date: 2021-07-20
• Subjects: Electricity production -- Watermelon rind waste -- Nitrite-containing wastewater -- Microbial fuel cell; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2021.127306
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Waste-to-energy is a promising approach for environmental sustainability. We examined the usage of watermelon rind waste coupled with nitrite-containing wastewater for electricity production in a membraneless biocathode microbial fuel cell (MB-MFC). Results showed that the maximum voltage output with internal nitrite circulation in a fed-batch mode was 294 mV, which was 1.4 and 1.3 times of that without internal circulation and in a continuous mode, respectively. Watermelon rind was quickly fermented to organic acids dominated with acetate and lactate during electricity generation. The most dominant genus in cathodic biofilm was Lactobacillus with a relative abundance of 74%, while the two dominative genera of Clostridium sensu stricto and Bacteroides in anodic biofilm had a similar abundance of approximately 18%. Three microbes cooperated well in producing electricity and converting nitrite to nitrogen gas. Additionally, we found the key genes of nirS/K, conrB and nosZ involved in nitrite reduction. Our results suggest the feasibility of harnessing electrical energy from MB-MFC with watermelon rind waste as substrates and nitrite-containing wastewater as electron acceptor. Graphical abstract: Image 1 Highlights: Watermelon rind coupled with nitrite was used for electricity production in MB-MFC. Internal nitrite circulation was an effective method of generating electricity. Watermelon rind was quickly fermented to organic acids (mainly lactate). Three microbes cooperated well in producing electricity. Nitrite entered a complete denitrification pathway in the cathodic biofilm.