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. 2023 Nov;13(11):351.
doi: 10.1007/s13205-023-03772-z. Epub 2023 Oct 4.

Application of halophiles in UMFC (upflow microbial fuel cell) for the treatment of saline olive oil industrial wastewater coupled with eco-energy yield

Arulazhagan Pugazhendi  1   2 , Mamdoh T Jamal  1
Affiliations

Application of halophiles in UMFC (upflow microbial fuel cell) for the treatment of saline olive oil industrial wastewater coupled with eco-energy yield

Arulazhagan Pugazhendi et al. 3 Biotech. 2023 Nov.

Abstract

The olive oil industry faces a major problem of treating the wastewater with high organic content and safe disposal. Olive oil industrial wastewater (OOIWW) consists of highly toxic environmental pollutants with high salinity. Saline olive oil industrial wastewater was treated using halophilic consortium in UMFC (upflow microbial fuel cell) mobilized with carbon felt as electrode. Total and soluble COD (chemical oxygen demand), total suspended solids and phenol content removal were studied at different organic loads (0.56, 0.77, 1.05, 1.26, 1.52 and 1.8 gCOD/L). UMFC with OOIWW was optimized at 1.52 gCOD/L for high organic removal and corresponding electricity production. Total COD, soluble COD, TSS and phenol removal were 91%, 89%, 78%, and complete removal of phenol was accomplished at the optimized organic load (1.52 gCOD/L). Correspondingly, the maximum bioenergy yield was 784 mV with 439 mW/m2 (power density) and 560 mA/m2 (current density), respectively. The presence of prominent halophilic exo-electrogens such as Ochrobactrum, Marinobacter, Rhodococcus and Bacillus potently treated the OOIWW and exhibited high energy yield.

Keywords: Bioelectricity; Bioenergy; Halophiles; Microbial fuel cell; Olive oil wastewater; Salinity.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of interestThe authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships and report no commercial or proprietary interest in any product or concept that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Upflow MFC design for OOIWW treatment and energy production
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Total COD removal efficiency
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SCOD removal efficiency
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
TSS removal efficiency
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
a Current density Vs power density in UMFC with OOIWW. b Current density Vs voltage in UMFC with OOIWW
Fig. 6
Fig. 6
Columbic efficiency in UMFC with OOIWW
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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