Artificial neural network for modeling and prediction of selected dye removal and voltage generation from aqueous solution using microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are considered a low-cost engineered system and easy to construct. MFC was designed as a single-chamber, inoculation with activated sludge, and graphite plates as an electrode. A series of experiments were undertaken in a batch mode in MFCs, to access the effect of the process variable: pH, salt bridge type, molar concentration, temperature, dye concentration. The best parameters were found to be 7.5, KCl, 1.5 M, 30 degrees C, and 500 mg/L where the maximum removal and voltage production was 70.3%, 822 mV, 74.7%, 994 mV, 80.8%, 1,395 mV, 85.7%, 1,989 mV and 93.8%, 2,800 mV, respectively. The batch experiment used adsorptive capacity for locally available and cheaper adsorbents: granite (G), porcelanite (PC), sawdust (SD), granular activated sludge, and groundnut shells (GS). Results showed that removal efficiency of adsorbents were in the consequence as: PC (69.3%) > GS (57.2%) > AS (52%) SD (43.8%) > G (24.3). Next experiments were focused on enhancing the performance of MFC by using the best adsorbents, Iraqi porcelanite show have good adsorption capacity dye, removal and voltage were obtained 95.8%, 2,789 mV. This study also investigates the removal of dyes (Congo red CR, Reactive black RB, Reactive yellow RY, and Methyl orange MO), decolorization of dyes was observed for the first at CR 98.6%, while in MO, RY, and RB is 96.2%, 91.5%, and 86.9%, respectively. In the terms of voltage, the maximum output voltage for CR, MO, RY, and RB is 2,877, 2,794, 2,574, and 2,454 mV, respectively. The artificial neural network model has been applied to accurately determine the most important factor in MFCs. It is observed that temperature plays a major role in decolorization and voltage production (100%) followed by a dye concentration of (84.3%).

Automated summary

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are cost-effective and easy-to-construct engineered systems. A series of experiments were conducted to assess the impact of various factors on MFC performance, including pH, salt bridge type, molar concentration, temperature, and dye concentration. The best parameters for maximum removal and voltage production were found to be 7.5 pH, salt bridge with KCl, 1.5 M molar concentration, 30 degrees C temperature, and 500 mg/L dye concentration. The efficiency of different adsorbents for dye removal varied, with PC, GS, AS, SD, and G showing the highest to lowest removal rates, respectively.