Microbial fuel cell driven mineral rich wastewater treatment process for circular economy by creating virtuous cycles

The aim of this work is to study for concurrent harvesting bioelectricity and struvite mineral from mineral rich wastewater containing with nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P) contents using MFCs and a chemical precipitation system. Whole reaction was constructed to sequentially run hybrid reactor (consisting of MFCs and struvite precipitation), gravitational sedimentation, nitrogen purging and MFCs. The MFCs generated around 6.439 +/- 0.481 mA and 2.084 +/- 0.310 mW as Imax and Pmax, respectively under 2g/l of COD. More than 70% of C source, and around 95% of P and N sources have been removed. Struvite mineral was precipitated in the hybrid reactor after the injection of Mg2+ and collected in sedimentation tank. Economic feasibility and beneficial concerns were carefully investigated, and it is proposed for applications in the decentralised treatment process of agriculture and livestock wastewater in order to realise circular and strong economy in agriculture by creating virtuous cycles.

Automated summary

The study focused on harvesting bioelectricity and struvite mineral from nitrogen and phosphorous rich wastewater using MFCs and a chemical precipitation system. It achieved removal of over 70% of C sources and around 95% of P and N sources, proposing applications in decentralized treatment process of agriculture and livestock wastewater to achieve circular economy.