A Study on Microbial Fuel Cell for Leachate Treatment and Bio Electricity Production

The need for renewable energy source is increasing in our society. Microbial fuel cell technology represents a new form of renewable energy source which converts organic matter into electricity with the help of various microorganisms present in the waste water. In the present study a double chambered microbial fuel cell with leachate as electrolyte was developed to simultaneously produce electricity and also for the removal of ammonia & total dissolved solids. Slurry from biogas plant was added to increase the number of microorganisms present in the leachate. Experiments were repeated by varying pH and the substrate concentrations. From the experiments it was observed that voltage production increases with pH and a maximum voltage of 33.4 mV was obtained at pH 9. The ammonia and total dissolved solids removal obtained at pH 9 were 14.94 % & 26.58 % respectively. It was also observed that with the increase of substrate concentration electricity production, ammonia and total dissolved solids removal were increases. Maximum of 92.6 mV was obtained at 12 g substrate concentration and ammonia & total dissolved solids removal obtained were 24.8 % & 32.91 % respectively.