Assessing Inocula for Microbial Activity and Biofilm Formation for Wastewater Treatment in Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

New avenues towards sustainable treatment and usage of water are being explored in the wake of water pollution and shortage. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a platform towards sustainable treatment and reuse of wastewater in the future [1]. MFCs are bioelectrochemical systems that convert chemical energy from organic and inorganic matter into electricity through the use of microbes as catalysts [2]. A microbial fuel cell consists of an anode chamber which houses the microbes in an anaerobic environment and a cathode chamber that maintains aerobic conditions [3]. Oxidation of the substrates by microbes in the anode compartment leads to generation of electrons, which migrate through a circuit towards the cathode [3]. The anode and cathode chambers are separated by a proton exchange membrane, which conducts protons from the anode to the cathode [4]. Microbial fuel cells have assumed an important role in recent years as they offer a practical solution for wastewater treatment and simultaneous generation of power [5].