Caffeine-containing wastewater treatment and bioelectricity generation in up-flow constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell: Influence of caffeine concentration, operating conditions, toxicity assessment, and degradation pathway

This study explored the potential of caffeine being utilized as the fuel for the microbes to produce electrons for electricity generation in up-flow constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell (UFCW-MFC). The effect of caffeine concentration was investigated to identify the availability of UFCW-MFC in the conversion of caffeine to electrons for electricity production; and the effect of operating conditions (circuit connection, supplementary aeration, and plant) was studied to determine their significance in the treatment of caffeine containing wastewater. The UFCW-MFC achieved about 98% of decaffeination efficiency regardless of caffeine concentration; while a decrease of efficiency was observed when UFCW-MFC operated without supplementary aeration and plant (similar to 93%). COD removal efficiency decreased correspondingly to the increase of caffeine concentration, which could be contributed by the higher concentration of caffeine and its intermediates. The degradation pathway of caffeine in UFCW-MFC was explored in this study. It was remarkable that ammonia was produced and converted to ammonium ions during caffeine catabolism. Supplementary aeration and macrophyte play a crucial role in removing excess caffeine, intermediates as well as accumulated ammonium ions. The toxicity assessment revealed that caffeine was degraded to less toxic products. The closed circuit connection not only contributed to electricity generation but also enhanced the caffeine and COD removal efficiency by 4.6 and 5.4% in the anaerobic region, respectively. The increase of voltage and maximum power density from phase I to phase IV indicated that caffeine could be converted to electrons by the anaerobes for electricity production.

Automated summary

This study discovered the potential of utilizing caffeine as fuel for microbes to generate electricity. The findings indicate that caffeine concentration has little effect on electron production, while the operating conditions (circuit connection, aeration, and vegetation) significantly impact the treatment of caffeine-containing wastewater. The study also reveals that caffeine degradation in UFCW-MFC could produce ammonia, and supplementary aeration and macrophyte play a crucial role in removing excess caffeine and intermediates.