Impact of reactor configuration on pilot-scale microbial fuel cell performance

Different microbial fuel cell (MFC) configurations have been successfully operated at pilot-scale levels (>100 L) to demonstrate electricity generation while accomplishing domestic or industrial wastewater treatment. Two cathode configurations have been primarily used based on either oxygen transfer by aeration of a liquid catholyte or direct oxygen transfer using air-cathodes. Analysis of several pilot-scale MFCs showed that air-cathode MFCs outperformed liquid catholyte reactors based on power density, producing 233% larger area-normalized power densities and 181% higher volumetric power densities. Reactors with higher electrode packing densities improved performance by enabling larger power production while minimizing the reactor footprint. Despite producing more power than the liquid catholyte MFCs, and reducing energy consumption for catholyte aeration, pilot MFCs based on air-cathode configuration failed to produce effluents with chemical oxygen demand (COD) levels low enough to meet typical threshold for discharge. Therefore, additional treatment would be required to further reduce the organic matter in the effluent to levels suitable for discharge. Scaling up MFCs must incorporate designs that can minimize electrode and solution resistances to maximize power and enable efficient wastewater treatment.