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Treatment of Vegetable Oil Industry Wastewater and Bioelectricity Generation Using Microbial Fuel Cell Via Modification and Surface Area Expansion of Electrodes Publisher



Yaghmaeian K1, 2 ; Rajabizadeh A3, 4 ; Jaberi Ansari F5 ; Puig S6 ; Sajjadipoya R7 ; Baghani AN1 ; Khanjani N4 ; Mansoorian HJ8
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Center for Solid Waste Research, Institute for Environmental Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Pharmaceutics Research Center, Institute of Neuropharmacology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  4. 4. Environmental Health Engineering Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
  5. 5. Department of Medical Nanotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  6. 6. LEQUiA, Institute of the Environment, University of Girona, Girona, Spain
  7. 7. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Jondishapoor University of Medical Sciences, Ahwaz, Iran
  8. 8. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Faculty of Health and Research Center for Health Sciences, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran

Source: Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology Published:2023


Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study evaluates the treatment of vegetable oil industry wastewater using dual-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs) via modification and surface area expansion of cost-effective electrodes. The modified electrodes were applied as both the anode and cathode to investigate their treatment capacity and electrochemical performance. Carbon paper anodes were modified using TiO2-HX@MWCNT-COOH-Al2O3 composite. Activated carbon powders originating from Bambuseae were used as the low-cost catalyst for the carbon felt cathode. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by Field-Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FE-SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) techniques. The electrochemical properties of the MFCs were investigated by Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). RESULTS: The highest average removal efficiencies of COD (chemical oxygen demand), BOD5 (5-day biochemical oxygen demand), NH4+ (ammonium), NH3− (nitrate), TSS (total suspended solids), and VSS (volatile suspended solids) were 94 ± 3% (33 kgCODrem/m3.d), 89 ± 1% (12 kgBODrem/m3.d), 87 ± 1% (0.24 kgNH4+-Nrem/m3.d), 74 ± 3% (0.05 kgNO3−-N/m3.d), 79 ± 2% (1 kgCODrem/m3.d), and 65 ± 3% (0.73 kgCODrem/m3.d), respectively. The highest average power density of 30 ± 5 W/m3 was obtained when treating vegetable oil industry wastewater. The highest average coulombic efficiency (CE) of 85 ± 3% and energy efficiency (EE) of 35 ± 2% were achieved. The EIS results showed that the high conductivity and large unique surface area significantly enhanced the charge transfer efficiency on the electrode surface. CONCLUSION: The results indicated that the TiO2-HX@MWCNT-COOH-Al2O3 composite can be used to reinforce the performance of MFCs. © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). © 2022 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).