K. GEETHA AND S. AMAL RAJ
Abstract
In this investigation a dual-chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC) with a salt bridge separator as a proton exchange membrane (PEM) was used to harness bioelectricity from primary treated distillery wastewater. The study examines the activity of various cathodic electron acceptors using chemicals such as potassium permanganate (KMnO 4 ) , potassium ferricyanide (K 3FeCN 6 )and dissolved oxygen (DO) in a cathode chamber. Among the three different electron acceptors, KMnO 4 possesses high oxidation capacity, which results in a maximum power output of 6.26 mW/m 2than K 3FeCN 6 (1.28 mW/m2) and dissolved oxygen (0.83 mW/m 2 ). The biocatalytic activity of the microbial community for electron transport from the substrate to the anode electrode were also studied using a single strain (SS) and distillery-enriched mixed consortium (MC) based on the cell potential. Compared to the single strain the mixed consortium consumes more complex carbon sources and accepts wider substrates, which increases the cell potential.