Application of microbial fuel cells energized by oil palm trunk sap (OPTS) to remove the toxic metal from synthetic wastewater with generation of electricity

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is the bioelectrochemical typed approach in which bacterial species generate electricity and remove the metal ions from synthetic wastewater. To improve the performance of MFCs, a local oil palm trunk sap (OPTS) was used in the present study as an organic substrate to improve the bacterial activities. The present electrochemical and biological characterizations proved that OPTS can deliver good efficiency in MFCs operations. The maximum obtained power density was 0.37 mW/m(2) and a current density of 55.26 mA/m(2). Similarly, the obtained removal rate for Pb2+, Cd2+, Cr3+, Ni2+, Co2+ and Hg2+ was 75%, 70.10%, 75%, 80%, 78.10% and 60%, respectively. During biological characterization, conductive pili-type bacterial species such as Klebsiella pneumoniae, Bacillus species, Lysinibacillus, and Enterobacter were found for metal removal and energy generation. Additionally, the parameter optimization showed that room temperature and pH 7 are ideal conditions for the industrial-scale application of the MFCs.

Automated summary

The study found that using oil palm trunk sap as an organic substrate can improve the performance of microbial fuel cells (MFCs), resulting in higher power density and removal rates. Through biological identification, it was discovered that bacterial species with conductive pili are beneficial for metal removal and energy generation. According to the parameter optimization results, room temperature and a pH of 7 are ideal conditions for the industrial-scale application of MFCs.