Comparative Bioelectricity Generation From High-Strength Industrial Wastewaters via Microbial Fuel Cells
Fuel Cells, cilt.26, sa.3, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
- Cilt numarası: 26 Sayı: 3
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1002/fuce.70120
- Dergi Adı: Fuel Cells
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Applied Science & Technology Source, Chemical Abstracts Core, Compendex, Greenfile, INSPEC, Engineering Source (EBSCO), Materials Science & Engineering Collection (ProQuest), Technology Collection (ProQuest)
- Anahtar Kelimeler: electricity generation, energy recovery, industrial wastewaters, microbial fuel cell, microorganisms, organic matter biodegradation
- Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a dual-purpose technology capable of treating high-strength industrial wastewaters while generating renewable electricity. This study compared the performance of dual-chamber MFCs equipped with titanium and graphite electrodes using five industrial effluents: olive mill wastewater, landfill leachate, slaughterhouse wastewater, yeast industry effluent, and municipal wastewater. The results demonstrated that electrode material and substrate type significantly influenced system performance. Graphite-based MFCs consistently outperformed titanium systems, achieving up to 93% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and a maximum power density of 30 mW/m2 with yeast industry effluent. Slaughterhouse wastewater also exhibited strong bioelectrochemical activity, whereas olive mill wastewater and landfill leachate showed limited performance due to inhibitory compounds. Microbial community analysis revealed that Clostridia are key fermentative bacteria, whereas Gammaproteobacteria play a dominant role in extracellular electron transfer. In addition, SEM–EDS analysis indicated that mineral scaling was a critical factor affecting electrode performance, especially in calcium-rich wastewaters. The findings highlight the importance of optimizing electrode materials, substrate selection, and biofilm-electrode interactions for improving MFC efficiency. Overall, the study demonstrates that graphite-based MFC systems have strong potential for integration into industrial wastewater treatment processes, contributing to sustainable resource recovery and decentralized energy production.