title: Characterization of the COD removal, electricity generation, and bacterial communities in microbial fuel cells treating molasses wastewater.
abstract: The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, electricity generation, and microbial communities were compared in 3 types of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) treating molasses wastewater. Single-chamber MFCs without and with a proton exchange membrane (PEM), and double-chamber MFC were constructed. A total of 10,000 mg L(-1) COD of molasses wastewater was continuously fed. The COD removal, electricity generation, and microbial communities in the two types of single-chamber MFCs were similar, indicating that the PEM did not enhance the reactor performance. The COD removal in the single-chamber MFCs (89-90%) was higher than that in the double-chamber MFC (50%). However, electricity generation in the double-chamber MFC was higher than that in the single-chamber MFCs. The current density (80 mA m(-2)) and power density (17 mW m(-2)) in the double-chamber MFC were 1.4- and 2.2-times higher than those in the single-chamber MFCs, respectively. The bacterial community structures in single- and double-chamber MFCs were also distinguishable. The amount of Proteobacteria in the double-chamber MFC was 2-3 times higher than those in the single-chamber MFCs. For the archaeal community, Methanothrix (96.4%) was remarkably dominant in the single-chamber MFCs, but Methanobacterium (35.1%), Methanosarcina (28.3%), and Methanothrix (16.2%) were abundant in the double-chamber MFC.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental Science and Engineering , Ewha Womans University , 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul , 03760 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Yun-Yeong
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental Science and Engineering , Ewha Womans University , 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul , 03760 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Tae G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: a Department of Environmental Science and Engineering , Ewha Womans University , 52 Ewhayeodae-gil, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul , 03760 , Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Kyung-Suk
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Cho
mesh_terms: D001674:Bioelectric Energy Sources / Q000382:microbiology*; D057919:Biological Oxygen Demand Analysis; D018533:Biomass; D004560:Electricity; D017014:Methanobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017020:Methanosarcina / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D017019:Methanosarcinaceae / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D008965:Molasses; D020560:Proteobacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000378:metabolism; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid / Q000379:methods; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D062065:Wastewater
keywords: biodegradation; bioreactors; microbial fuel cells (MFCs); molasses wastewater; wastewater treatment