Abstract
A sandwich domestic wastewater fed dual-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC) was designed for energy
generation and wastewater treatment. Power density for the MFC increased with increasing domestic
wastewater concentration, reaching a maximum of 251 mW/m2 for full strength wastewater (3400 mg/L
chemical oxygen demand (COD)) at a current density of 0.054 mA/cm2 at an external resistance of 200Ω.
These values dropped to 60 mW/m2 (76% lower) and 0.003 mA/cm2 using wastewater 91% diluted to 300
mg/L COD. Maximum removals were: of COD, 89%; nitrite, 60%; nitrate, 77%; total nitrogen, 36%; and
phosphate, 26%.