Cathodes of membrane and packed manganese dioxide/titanium dioxide/graphitic carbon nitride/granular activated carbon promoted treatment of coking wastewater in microbial fuel cell

A more practical microbial fuel cell system with both catalytic cathode membrane and packed cathode of modified granular activated carbon with manganese dioxide/titanium dioxide/graphitic carbon nitride/(MnO2/TiO2/g-C3N4/GAC) was tested in treating high COD coking wastewater (>3000 or >6000 mg L-1). The decreased system internal resistance promoted treatment efficiency and electricity generation. With microbes acclimated, the system achieved both high removals of COD and NH4+-N (>96%), decreased UV254 from 23.80 to 34.50 cm(-1) in influent to 1.11-1.42 cm(-1) in effluent. The capacity in COD removal reached 3.07 kg COD m(-3)d(-1) and the maximum power density was 1680 mW m(3) much higher than those without the packed cathode. This system is feasible for sustainable treatment of coking wastewater.

Automated summary

The research found that in the microbial fuel cell system with modified granular activated carbon with manganese dioxide/titanium dioxide/graphitic carbon nitride, COD and NH4+-N removal rates can reach over 96%, and the system's treatment efficiency and electricity generation are significantly improved.