Hexavalent chromium as a cathodic electron acceptor in a bipolar membrane microbial fuel cell with the simultaneous treatment of electroplating wastewater

Abstract

Hexavalent chromium wastewater is produced in electroplating processes and the heavy metal industry, highlighting the need for an environmentally friendly treatment and the recovery of chromium. This study compared the performance of microbial fuel cells implemented with a proton exchange membrane (PEM-MFC) and a bipolar membrane (BPM-MFC) using hexavalent chromium from electroplating wastewater as the catholyte. The removal of hexavalent chromium and simultaneous bioelectricity generation were enhanced significantly using a BPM. On the other hand, in the PEM-MFC, the lower pH of the electroplating wastewater (pH 1.8) in the cathodic chamber decreased the anodic pH due to proton diffusion through the PEM, and inhibited the bioelectrochemical reaction. Scanning electron microscopy showed that the reduced chromium particles precipitated on the cathode carbon electrode during the MFC operation. The precipitate was identified as amorphous chromium oxide particles by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy.