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Updated: Apr 17, 2026

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms
Published on: June 1, 2018
Electrochemical decolorization of methyl orange powered by bioelectricity from single-chamber microbial fuel cells
Baogang Zhang1, Zhijun Wang1, Xiang Zhou2
1School of Water Resources and Environment, China University of Geosciences Beijing, Key Laboratory of Groundwater Circulation and Evolution (China University of Geosciences Beijing), Ministry of Education, Beijing 100083, China.
Abstract:
Methyl orange (MO), a typical azo dye, is a well-known recalcitrant pollutant in dye wastewater. An aeration electrochemical system with single-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) as renewable power sources is proposed for MO decolorization. The enhanced color removal efficiency up to 90.4% within 360 min is observed with voltage across the aeration electrolytic reactor fixed at 700 mV. The results from gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis indicate the destruction of MO, with generation of low molecular weight compounds such as benzene derivatives. Comparison experiments imply the indirect electrochemical oxidation of MO by generated H2O2 is mainly responsible for MO decolorization in present study. This work offers a cost-effective electrochemical method for enhancing electrochemical degradation of dyes with bioelectricity generated from MFCs.
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