Hexagonally structured microbial desalination cell for bio-electrochemically mediated removal of pollutants and...

This study introduces a new hexagonally structured multi-anode shared cathode microbial desalination cell (MASC-MDC) designed to address the limitations of traditional MDCs in handling hypersaline solutions. The hexagonal shape shortens the intermembrane distance to 2 cm, significantly reducing internal resistance (∼50 Ω) and enhancing bioelectrochemical performance. Compared to a conventional three-chamber MDC, the MASC-MDC achieved better results, including a higher open-circuit voltage (646 vs. 553 mV), faster desalination (95.71 % in five cycles vs. 94.29 % in seven), higher desalination rate (0.27 vs. 0.195 g·L^-1·h^-1), and greater maximum power density (162.2 vs. 119.2 mW·m^-2). The system also attained effective pollutant removal with 90.05 % COD reduction. These findings demonstrate that the multi-anode shared cathode design enhances ion transport, bioenergy production, and wastewater treatment simultaneously, offering a scalable, self-powered alternative to energy-intensive desalination methods.