K. POONGOTHAI AND M. JAYAPRAKASHVEL
Abstract
Microbial fuel cells were investigated utilizing landfill leachate as the substrate. Microbial fuel cell is a device used to convert chemical energy to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms. In microbial fuel cells, organic and inorganic matter present in the substrate is oxidized (degraded) by microorganisms and electrons are produced. These electrons flow through wiring and the resistor to produce electrical current and therefore direct electricity. Circular cylindrical MFC technologies were employed in this study to investigate the polluted aquifer leachate treatment conditions. Results obtained demonstrated that it is possible to generate electricity and simultaneously treat landfill leachate in MFC columns. The maximum power density produced was 102.47mW/m3 without the addition of nutrients and was 327.75mW/m3 with the addition of nutrients to the MFC columns by using plain graphite electrodes in circle MFCs containing a volume of 934 and 950 mL of leachate coulombic efficiencies (CE) of circular MFC design ranged from 30%-55%which described the overall efficiency of MFC in electricity production. This paper highlights the applications of MFC technology in electricity production using leachate as substrate, since it being simple andcost effective.