Novel design of a multitube microbial fuel cell (UM2FC) for energy recovery and treatment of membrane concentrates

A two-stage treatment process, consisting of a flat sheet membrane system and a novel upflow multitube microbial fuel cell (UM2FC), was investigated to simultaneously treat concentrate streams—as well as produce electricity. This study tested the treatment of the retained part (i.e membrane concentrate) of the membrane process and electricity production using an air-cathode UM2FC inoculated with sediment sample collected from Golden Horn, Istanbul. The electrochemical behaviors were investigated using electrochemical methods to identify how membrane concentrates effects the reactor performance. The treatment of domestic wastewater was performed using a lab-scale cross-flow filtration apparatus with a UH050 membrane and the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency as a result of membrane treatment was 87%. Then the UM2FC was fed sequentially from the feed tank when desired retained ratios (25% and 50%) observed. The maximum power density obtained was 25.138 mW m−2 in the 50% concentrate or a volume concentration ratio (VCR) of 2 fed UM2FC which was 244% higher than that achieved using raw wastewater (7.303 mW m−2) and COD removal was >65% in UM2FC. The contribution of different resistances such as ohmic, charge transfer and mass transfer resistances of the reactor under different stages was ascertained through the measurements using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the results showed that an increasing organic loading reduced the internal resistance and enhanced power. On the whole, study reported new findings such as a new treatment technology for membrane concentrate treatment and gives insight to literature on reactor design.