Performance of a multi-chamber microbial fuel cell with biochar anode for industrial wastewater treatment and energy recovery

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable method for industrial wastewater treatment by simultaneously degrading pollutants and generating electricity.This study evaluates the performance of a multi-chamber MFC incorporating a biochar-based anode and a MnO-coated cathode for improved electron transfer and pollutant removal.The system was operated in continuous flow mode for 90 days using industrial wastewater containing chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 1200 mg/L, Cr(VI) of 45 mg/L, Pb of 20 mg/L, and Cd of 15 mg/L.The biochar anode, produced from coconut shells pyrolyzed at 800 C, provided enhanced microbial attachment and electron transfer, leading to a COD removal efficiency of 92.3%, Cr(VI) reduction of 85.7%, and a maximum power density of 1.72 W/m.Biofilm analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing identified Geobacter sulfurreducens and Shewanella oneidensis as dominant electroactive bacteria.These results demonstrate the effectiveness of biochar-based MFCs for industrial wastewater treatment with simultaneous energy recovery.