Real textile and domestic wastewater treatment by novel cross-linked microbial fuel cell (CMFC) reactor

Domestic wastewater has been used as a co-substrate with real textile wastewater (RTW) in a novel cross-linked microbial fuel cell (CMFC) reactor for its treatment and bioelectricity generation. In novel CMFC, two H shaped MFCs were stacked hydrodynamically for providing sequential anaerobic and aerobic treatments in the bio-anode and bio-cathodes, respectively. Both MFCs are electrically connected in parallel mode to enhance power generation. Performance of CMFC was observed in terms of power generation, COD, and color removals at different blending percentage of RTW (20, 30, 40, and 50%) with domestic wastewater. The maximum blending percentage of RTW in domestic wastewater was found 40% optimum at their inherent pH and conductivity with 24 h hydraulic retention time per chamber. Further at this percentage, pH and conductivity of the feed were maintained at 6.4 and 8 mS cm(-1) by phosphate buffer solution. Under these control parameters and with change in organic loading rate (OLR), CMFC achieved power density, COD, and color removals of 337 Wm(-3), 82, and 60% respectively. Membrane-less-CMFC gave enhanced power density (750 Wm(-3)) but a lower COD (79%) and color (45%) removals in comparison to CMFC. Bio-cathode (aerobic treatment) also shown its potential in CMFC by removing aromatic amines produced at the bio-anode due to anaerobic treatment of azo dyes present in RTW. Adding domestic wastewater as a co-substrate neutralizes RTW and also provides sufficient nutrients for biological treatment, hence increases its treatability and reduces its treatment cost. CMFC also proves its potential to sustain in real-world conditions and can be upgraded and scaled up after further modifications.