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Updated: Nov 9, 2025

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization
Published on: December 29, 2013
Bioenergy generation and nitrogen removal in a novel ecological-microbial fuel cell
Shentan Liu1, Xiaojuan Feng2, Hongpu Xue3
1College of Geology and Environment, Xi'an University of Science and Technology, Xi'an, 710054, Shaanxi, China; School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
Abstract:
A novel ecological-microbial fuel cell (E-MFC) was constructed based on the mutualistic symbiosis relationship among wetland plants Ipomoea aquatic, benthic fauna Tubifex tubifex (T. tubifex) and microorganisms. The maximum power densities of sediment MFC (S-MFC), wetland plant MFC (WP-MFC) and E-MFC were 6.80 mW/m2, 10.60 mW/m2 and 15.59 mW/m2, respectively. Ipomoea aquatic roots secreted organic matter as electricigens' fuel for electricity generation, while T. tubifex decomposed decaying leaves and roots into soluble organic matter and plant nutrients, forming a co-dependent and mutually beneficial system, which was conducive to bioelectricity production. The E-MFC obtained the highest nitrogen removal, and the removal efficiencies of NH4+-N and NO3--N were 90.4% and 96.5%, respectively. Hydraulic retention time (HRT), cathodic aeration and T. tubifex abundance had significant effects on E-MFC power generation. The performeance boost of E-MFC was closely related to anodic microbial community change caused by the introduction of T. tubifex.
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