Effect of bufferless conditions on the degradation of hydrogen fermentation effluent from bamboo hydrolysate by microbial fuel cells

Abstract

Nowadays, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have been extensively studied and widely explored for wastewater treatment due to their unique bioelectrochemical features that enable both power generation and organic degradation. However, the use of buffers in MFCs can lead to additional costs and secondary chemical pollution concerns. This study compares the performance of bufferless MFCs to those that employ buffers, focusing on various factors such as electrochemical properties, biofilm characteristics through imaging, and the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Here, the effluent hydrogen fermentation of bamboo hydrolysate containing various organic compounds as the carbon source and housing a community of electro-active microorganisms are used in the study. The findings reveal that bufferless MFCs gained a power generation of 143 mW·m−2 and a current density of 857 mA·m−2. Furthermore, the COD removal percentage of bufferless MFC was 74.7%, slightly lower than the 78.4% of buffered MFC. This highlights the potential of bufferless MFCs as a viable option for wastewater treatment, offering a promising solution to address the concerns associated with the use of buffers in MFCs. This study suggests that bufferless MFCs hold promise for future wastewater treatment applications, providing an effective and sustainable approach for organic degradation and power generation without the need for buffers.