Production of bioelectricity from palm oil mill effluent through a dual chamber-microbial fuel cell system with the addition of Lactobacillus bulgaricus

Abstract

Palm oil liquid waste has been successfully developed to produce bio-electricity with a dual chamber-microbial fuel cell system. This study utilized the Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria as a support for the substrate samples prepared in the anode chamber. Meanwhile, in the cathode chamber, KMnO4 electrolyte solution is used as an electroactive species that can capture electrons well. In addition, salt bridges fabricated from agar have a role as ion-exchange media in microbial fuel cells. The test results showed that the best performance was obtained in samples of palm oil wastewater with the addition of 10% Lactobacillus bulgaricus (LS/B-10) bacteria with current, voltage, and power density values of 0.9640 mA, 0.6760 V, and 248.04 mW/m2, respectively. The MFC system has also been proven to be able to reduce COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) and TSS (Total Suspended Solid) levels, with the results of a reduction percentage of 42.6% and 7.2%, respectively, in the LS/B-10 variable treatment. All test results show that palm oil wastewater with the addition of Lactobacillus bulgaricus bacteria is promising for producing bioelectricity with a microbial fuel cell system.