Electricity generation and heavy metal remediation by utilizing yam (Dioscorea alata) waste in benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFCs)

In the present study, yam (Dioscorea alata) waste is used in benthic microbial fuel cells (BMFCs) to remediate heavy metals (Pb2+, Cd2+, Cr3+) from the metals-supplemented pond water. The obtained energy efficiency was 0.0744 mW/m(2) while the targeted heavy metals remediation results are very encouraging. Within 30 days of the BMFCs operation, the remediation efficiency of Pb2+ was 90.14 %, Cd2+ was 88.00 % and Cr3+ showed 90.34 %. The Bacillus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter species, which are responsible for metal remediation and energy generation, were identified during the biological tests. Additionally, pH and temperature optimizations were carried out to predict the optimum conditions for the industrial-scale BMFCs operation. Lastly, the BMFCs mechanism and future recommendations are included.

Automated summary

In this study, yam waste was successfully used in benthic microbial fuel cells to remediate heavy metals from metals-supplemented pond water, showing promising results in heavy metal removal. Bacillus, Klebsiella, and Enterobacter species were identified as responsible for metal remediation and energy generation through biological tests. pH and temperature optimizations are crucial for predicting the optimal conditions for industrial-scale BMFCs operation.