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In this study, three single-chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs), each having Pt-coated carbon cloth as a cathode and four bamboo charcoal (BC) plates as an anode, were run in a fed-batch mode, individually and in series. Simulated potato-processing wastewater was used as a substrate for supporting the growth of a mixed bacterial culture. The maximum power output increased from 0.386 mW with one MFC to 1.047 mW with three MFCs connected in series. The maximum power density, however, decreased from 576 mW/m2 (normalized to the cathode area) with one MFC to 520 mW/m2 with three MFCs in series. The experimental results showed that power can be increased by connecting the MFCs in series; however, choosing low resistance BC is crucial for increasing power density.

The world is facing serious threats from the depletion of non-renewable energy resources, freshwater shortages and food scarcity. As the world population grows, the demand for fresh water, energy, and food will increase, and the need for treating and recycling wastewater will rise. In the past decade, wastewater has been recognized as a resource as it primarily consists of water, energy-latent organics and nutrients. Microbial fuel cells (MFC) have attracted considerable attention due to their versatility in their applications in wastewater treatment, power generation, toxic pollutant removal, environmental monitoring sensors, and more. This article provides a review of MFC technologies applied to the removal and/or recovery of nutrients (such as P and N), organics (COD), and bioenergy (as electricity) from various wastewaters. This review aims to provide the current perspective on MFCs, focusing on the recent advancements in the areas of nutrient removal and/or recovery with simultaneous power generation.

A cost-effective biochar derived from rubber tree sawdust was prepared by low-temperature pyrolysis at 500ºC for 2 h. The biochar was placed as an anode electrode in the anode chamber of the novel model ceramic-separator microbial fuel cell (CMFC) with a laccase-based air cathode. The rubber wastewater (with 500 mg/L sulfate and 1000 mg/L COD) was used as an anolyte. Maximal volumetric power density (PD) of 3.26±0.08 µW/m 3 , maximal volumetric current density of 3.20±0.07 mA/m 3 , and system internal resistance of 1002 Ω were obtained. The post-treatment results showed sulfate removal and COD removal efficiencies of 88.26±1.29% and 89.77±0.45%, respectively. Our work provided a novel model of a low-cost and economically friendly MFC system. Moreover, this work demonstrated a potential route based on sustainable and economical biochar as a bio-anode for wastewater treatment in an MFC.