Landfill leachate treatment with microbial fuel cells; scale-up through plurality

Three Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) were fluidically connected in series, with a single feed-line going into the 1st column through the 2nd column and finally as a single outflow coming from the 3rd column. Provision was also made for re-circulation in a loop (the outflow from the 3rd column becoming the feed-line into the 1st column) in order to extend the hydraulic retention time (HRT) on treatment of landfill leachate. The effect of increasing the electrode surface area was also studied whilst the columns were (fluidically) connected in series. An increase in the electrode surface area from 360 to 1080 cm2 increased the power output by 118% for C2, 151% for C3 and 264% for C1. COD and BOD5 removal efficiencies also increased by 137% for C1, 279% for C2 and 182% for C3 and 63% for C1, 161% for C2 and 159% for C3, respectively. The system when configured into a loop was able to remove 79% of COD and 82% of BOD5 after 4 days. These high levels of removal efficiency demonstrate the MFC system’s ability to treat leachate with the added benefit of generating energy.