A comparison of reactor configuration using a fruit waste fed two-stage anaerobic up-flow leachate reactor microbial fuel cell and a single-stage microbial fuel cell. (April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Zafar, Hirra; Peleato, Nicolas; Roberts, Deborah
• Is Part Of: Bioresource technology. Volume 374(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04
• Subjects: AULRMFC Anaerobic up-flow leachate reactor microbial fuel cell -- COD Chemical oxygen demand -- HRT Hydraulic retention time -- MFC Microbial fuel cell -- OCV Open circuit voltage -- OLR Organic loading rate -- sCOD Soluble chemical oxygen demand -- SSMFC Single-stage microbial fuel cell -- TCOD Total chemical oxygen demand -- TS Total solids -- TVS Total volatile solids -- VFA Volatile fatty acid; Microbial fuel cells -- Fruit waste -- Food waste -- Bioprocesses -- Reactor design; Biomass -- Periodicals; Biomass energy -- Periodicals; Bioremediation -- Periodicals; Agricultural wastes -- Periodicals; Factory and trade waste -- Periodicals; Organic wastes -- Periodicals; Bioénergie -- Périodiques; Déchets agricoles -- Périodiques; Déchets industriels -- Périodiques; Déchets organiques -- Périodiques; Déchets (Combustible) -- Périodiques; 662.88
• DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2023.128778
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0960-8524

Abstract

Graphical abstract: Highlights: MFC configurations were compared in terms of substrate removal and power generation. A maximum power density of 221 mW/m 2 and 218 mW/m 2 was observed. Two-stage MFC removed 118% higher CODs compared to single-stage MFC. Decline in voltage is positively correlated with COD concentration level. Coulombic efficiency of AULRMFC was 86.7% lower than single-chamber MFC. Abstract: Food waste generation and its consequent environmental impacts are increasing due to rapid urbanization, the global population, and associated food demand. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a sustainable technology through which this food waste can be treated and used to produce bioelectricity. This study used two MFC configurations, a two-stage anaerobic up-flow leachate reactor MFC and a single-stage MFC, comparing the potential to treat solid fruit waste and fruit waste leachate. The two-stage MFC showed a higher potential to remove substrate at a shorter time compared to single-stage MFC. In 30 days, the two-stage anaerobic up-flow leachate reactor had a power density of 221 mW/m 2 . It was able to remove more total solids (by 95 %), volatile solids (by 70 %), total chemical oxygen demand (by 83 %), soluble chemical oxygen demand (by 87 %), and carbohydrates (by 33 %) compared to the single-stage MFC. However, the single-stage MFC showed higher coulombic efficiency (by 86.7 %) compared to the two-stage MFC. The efficiency of single-stage MFC improved by adding buffer and maintaining a neutral pH level of the substrate. The results of this study emphasize the importance of reactor design and demonstrate that MFC can be a viable technology to generate bioenergy from food waste.