Microbial fuel cell - a novel self-powered wastewater electrolyser for electrocoagulation of heavy metals

摘要

This paper describes the suitability of the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for generation of electrical power with a simultaneous synthesis of active catholyte in the form of caustic solution. The active solution was a product of self-powered wastewater electrolysis inside a terracotta based MFC reactor, utilizing i) wastewater with a sodium acetate as a carbon source and ii) neat urine. Catholyte solution that has been actively synthesized was harvested and used for precipitation of heavy metals such as: iron, copper and zinc showing its suitability for use in electro-coagulation (electro-flocculation).This proposed alternative approach to self-powered electrocoagulation is based on electrochemically formed caustic catholyte within the inner cathode chamber of the MFC and then used ex situ to form metal hydroxides that precipitate out from a heavy metal solution.