High-performance bacterium-enhanced dual-compartment microbial fuel cells for simultaneous treatment of food waste oil and copper-containing wastewater

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) use the metabolic actions of microorganisms in an anode chamber to convert the chemical energy from wastewater into electrical energy. To improve the MFC power generation performance and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency, Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila was added to the anode chamber of a dual-compartment MFC. In this process, Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila promotes the degradation of macromolecules such as bis(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate in food waste oil. Additionally, the generated electrical energy reduced Cu²⁺ in the copper-containing wastewater in the cathode chamber to Cu monomers. The maximum power density of the MFC was 49.5 ± 3.5 mW/m², the maximum removal efficiencies of COD and Cu²⁺ were 63.5 ± 5.8% and 96.5 ± 1.0%, respectively, and Cu²⁺ was reduced to brick-red Cu monomers. This study provides insights into the simultaneous implementation of food waste oil treatment and metal resource recovery.