Sains Malaysiana 40(9)(2011): 993–997

Microbial Fuel Cells using Mixed Cultures of Wastewater for Electricity Generation

(Sel Bahan Api Mikrob Menggunakan Air Sisa Kultur Bercampur untuk Penjanaan Tenaga Elektrik)

S.M. Zain*, N.S. Roslani, R. Hashim, N. Anuar & Suja & N.E.A Basi

Department of Civil & Structural Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

N. Anuar & W.R.W. Daud

Department of Chemical Process & Engineering, Faculty of Engineering & Built Environment

Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, 43600 Bangi, Selangor D.E., Malaysia

Received: 16 June 2010 / Accepted: 11 January 2011

ABSTRACT

Fossil fuels (petroleum, natural gas and coal) are the main resources for generating electricity. However, they have been major contributors to environmental problems. One potential alternative to explore is the use of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which generate electricity using microorganisms. MFCs uses catalytic reactions activated by microorganisms to convert energy preserved in the chemical bonds between organic molecules into electrical energy. MFC has the ability to generate electricity during the wastewater treatment process while simultaneously treating the pollutants. This study investigated the potential of using different types of mixed cultures (raw sewage, mixed liquor from the aeration tank & return waste activated sludge) from an activated sludge treatment plant in MFCs for electricity generation and pollutant removals (COD & total kjeldahl nitrogen, TKN). The MFC in this study was designed as a dual-chambered system, in which the chambers were separated by a NafionTM membrane using a mixed culture of wastewater as a biocatalyst. The maximum power density generated using activated sludge was 9.053 mW/cm2, with 26.8% COD removal and 40% TKN removal. It is demonstrated that MFC offers great potential to optimize power generation using mixed cultures of wastewater.

Keywords: Dual-chambered system; electricity; microbial fuel cell (MFC); mixed cultures; wastewater

ABSTRAK

Bahan api fosil (petroleum, gas asli dan arang batu) merupakan sumber utama untuk menghasilkan tenaga elektrik pada masa kini. Walau bagaimanapun, bahan api ini merupakan penyumbang utama kepada masalah pencemaran alam sekitar. Salah satu pendekatan yang dilihat berpotensi untuk dikembangkan ialah penggunaan sel bahan api mikrob (MFC) untuk menghasilkan tenaga elektrik menggunakan mikroorganisma. MFC merupakan satu tindak balas katalisis mikroorganisma untuk menukarkan tenaga yang disimpan di dalam ikatan kimia organik kepada tenaga elektrik. Sel bahan api mikrob berupaya untuk menghasilkan tenaga elektrik dan pada masa yang sama dapat menyingkirkan bahan pencemar. Kajian ini adalah untuk menentukan potensi penggunaan kultur bercampur yang berbeza (kumbahan mentah, likuor campuran tangki pengudaraan dan enap cemar kumbahan yang dikitar semula) dari loji rawatan enap cemar teraktif di dalam MFC untuk menjana tenaga elektrik dan menyingkirkan bahan pencemar (COD & jumlah kjeldahl nitrogen, TKN). Di dalam kajian ini, MFC direkabentuk sebagai sistem dua kebuk dan dipisahkan oleh membran NafionTM menggunakan air sisa kultur bercampur sebagai biokatalis. Ketumpatan tenaga maksimum yang diperoleh adalah 9.053 mW/cm2 menggunakan enap cemar teraktif dengan penyingkiran COD sebanyak 26.8% dan TKN sebanyak 40%. Ini menunjukkan MFC berpotensi untuk dioptimumkan penjanaan tenaga menggunakan kultur bercampur.

Kata kunci: Air sisa; kultur bercampur; sel bahan api mikrob; sistem dua kebuk; tenaga elektrik

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*Corresponding author; email: smz@eng.ukm.my