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Performance of a multi-chamber microbial fuel cell with biochar anode for industrial wastewater treatment and energy recovery
 
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1
Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, The University of Dodoma, 1 Benjamin Mkapa Road, 41218 Iyumbu, Dodoma, Tanzania
 
2
Department of Ecology and Geology, Faculty of Engineering, Aktau, microdistrict 32, Main building Index 130000, Yessenov University, Kazakhstan
 
 
Corresponding author
Timoth Mkilima   

Department of Environmental Engineering and Management, The University of Dodoma, 1 Benjamin Mkapa Road, 41218 Iyumbu, Dodoma, Tanzania
 
 
J. Ecol. Eng. 2025; 26(7)
 
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ABSTRACT
Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a sustainable method for industrial wastewater treatment by simultaneously degrading pollutants and generating electricity. This study evaluates the performance of a multi-chamber MFC incorporating a biochar-based anode and a MnO₂-coated cathode for improved electron transfer and pollutant removal. The system was operated in continuous flow mode for 90 days using industrial wastewater containing chemical oxygen demand (COD) of 1200 mg/L, Cr(VI) of 45 mg/L, Pb²⁺ of 20 mg/L, and Cd²⁺ of 15 mg/L. The biochar anode, produced from coconut shells pyrolyzed at 800°C, provided enhanced microbial attachment and electron transfer, leading to a COD removal efficiency of 92.3%, Cr(VI) reduction of 85.7%, and a maximum power density of 1.72 W/m². Biofilm analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing identified Geobacter sulfurreducens and Shewanella oneidensis as dominant electroactive bacteria. These results demonstrate the effectiveness of biochar-based MFCs for industrial wastewater treatment with simultaneous energy recovery.
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