Performance comparison of triple and dual chamber microbial fuel cell using distillery wastewater as a substrate

The reactor design is the most significant factor in microbial fuel cell (MFC) which enhances the power production during the treatment of distillery wastewater. The triple chamber MFC was constructed with two anodes and a cathode compartment separated by a proton exchange membrane. The power production in triple chamber MFC was 1.9 times higher as compared to a dual chamber MFC and it achieved power density of 168 mW/m2 normalized to cathode surface area. However, the power density production was not much difference in both MFCs with respect to anode surface area. The power density increased from 168 to 198 mW/m2 with decreasing the interelectrode distance between the anode and cathode. The anolyte and catholyte concentrations were also varied to determine their effect on power production in triple chamber MFC. Higher concentrations of substrate in terms of chemical oxygen demand in the anode chamber exhibited higher power production of 429 mW/m2. The power production was decreased with increasing the concentration of catholyte in triple chamber MFC. © 2014 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Environ Prog, 34: 589–594, 2015