This study investigates an enhanced Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) system for simultaneous wastewater treatment and bioenergy generation. A Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a system that uses naturally occurring microorganisms to treat wastewater while converting organic pollutants into electrical energy. The system utilizes agricultural waste materials, where rice and corn straw are converted into activated carbon for electrode modification. This approach enhances the structural properties of the electrodes, increasing porosity and surface area, which improves microbial attachment and facilitates efficient electron transfer during wastewater treatment. As a result, an initial power density of 226 mW/m² was achieved proving reduction in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), indicating effective pollutant removal. To further improve wastewater treatment efficiency and energy recovery, tea-leaves-derived nanomaterials were integrated onto the electrodes to enhance microbial adhesion and system stability within the water environment. In addition, microbial activity was stimulated using glucose-enriched sludge to optimize the degradation of organic pollutants and increase electron production.
The optimized system demonstrated a significant improvement in performance, reaching a power density of 390 mW/m² which indicates an expected and improved efficiency in Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal. Expected to improve wastewater purification alongside higher bioenergy generation. This project presents a cost-effective and scalable solution for wastewater treatment by transforming agricultural waste into functional electrode materials, offering a sustainable approach for improving water quality and energy recovery in resource-limited regions.
