Performance investigation of membrane-less multi-anode shared cathode microbial fuel cell for bioelectricity production

Abstract

This study investigated the performance of the designed Membrane-Less Multi Anode Shared Cathode Microbial Fuel Cell (MMASC-MFC) for bioelectricity production under two modes of operation: recirculating and non-recirculating. The substrate utilized in this study was aquaculture wastewater and the anode effluent was entirely used as feed for cathode in sequential manner. The bioelectricity generation capacity of the MMASC-MFC was measured and quantified in terms of voltage, current, power density, and current density. Following a 5-day operational period, the MMASC-MFC operating in non-recirculating mode demonstrated notable performance as evidenced by its peak voltage, power density, and current density values of 225 mV; 3718.6 mW/m²; and, 16.532 mA/m², respectively. In contrast, the recirculating mode exhibited maximum voltage, power density, and current density measurements of 201 mV; 2967.61 mW/m²; and 14.758 mA/m², respectively. The MMASC-MFC demonstrated effective bioelectricity generation in both operational modes, with the non-recirculating mode exhibiting superior performance compared to the recirculating mode. The findings of this study emphasize the capacity of the MMASC-MFC system to generate bioelectricity and its sustainability for wastewater treatment and energy recovery in aquaculture sector.