A Membrane Less, Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell for Waste Water Treatment

The electrochemical activity of four different species of microbes isolated from sewage water was established. The bacteria were screened on EMB medium post isolation in order to differentiate and characterize them. The metallic green colonies in EMB were confirmed to be (la) Escherichia coli, The (lb) pink and the (lc) purple colonies were Lactose consuming organisms. The colorless colonies (Id) are organisms that do not consume lactose. Glass wool and Glass Beads were used in the mediator less, single chambered MFC instead of the proton exchange membrane. The catholyte consists of standard NaCl as the electrolyte. The anolyte consists of nutrient broth enriched with 80% artificial sewage water. Graphite electrodes were used as both cathode and anodes in this study. The maximum power density from the E. coli (la) fed MFC was 12.94 mW m~2, from the Lactose consuming (lb) fed Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) was 184.36 mW m~2, from the lactose consuming (lc) fed MFC was 298.47 mW m~2 and from the non-lactose consuming (Id) fed MFC was 400.92 mW m~2. The present study demonstrates the Immense ability of the lactose consuming (lb) and (lc) as a means of monitoring Lactose and hence a microbial sensor in monitoring Diary industry effluent (lc) enjoys a potential application in waste water treatment plants that are coupled with current generation.