Re-use of carbon rods from used batteries as cathode for textile azo dye degradation in a microbial fuel cell

Abstract

a b s t r a c tMicrobial fuel cell (MFC) has been used to treat various types of organic effluents using microbes as biocatalysts, producing electrical energy. The electrodes play a significant role in the MFC bioelectrochemical processes. The present study reports the use of carbon rods from used batteries as cathode material for textile dye degradation and decolorization. The concept of using carbon rods from used zinc carbon cell is novel and a green process of waste recycling in a MFC. Real textile dye effluent was loaded in the MFC anode. The MFC under investigation had produced a maximum power of 56.42 mW and with 90% reduction in COD over a time period of 600 h. The percent decolourization attained was 28.5%. The FESEM analysis of biofilm observed was opaque and thick sheets surrounded by a strong coat of possibly exopolysaccharide. Bio-film under optical microscopy, the microbes appeared to be isolated and bilobed. The results of this study indicate that the carbon rods from zinc carbon cell can be harvested as a MFC cathode for dye degradation and simultaneous power production.