https://doi.org/10.17113/ftb.63.02.25.9020

Article in press

A Comparative Study of Microbial Fuel Cells and Microbial Electrolysis Cells for Bioenergy Production from Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Abu Danish Aiman Bin Abu Sofian^1,2#, Vincent Lee^1#, Henry Marn Jhun Leong¹, Yeong Shenq Lee¹, Guan-Ting Pan³ and Yi Jing Chan^1*

¹Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University of Nottingham Malaysia, Broga Road, 43500, Semenyih, Selangor, Malaysia

²Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Manchester, Manchester, M13 9PL, United Kingdom

³College of Science, Health, Engineering & Education, Murdoch University, 90 South Street, Murdoch, WA 6150, Australia

Copyright © 2024 This is a Diamond Open Access article published under CC-BY licence. Copyright remains with the authors, who grant third parties the unrestricted right to use, copy, distribute and reproduce the article as long as the original author(s) and source are acknowledged.

Article history:

Received: 28 December 2024

Accepted: 16 June 2025

Keywords:

microbial electrolysis cells; microbial fuel cells; hydrogen; palm oil mill effluent; proton exchange membrane, bioenergy

The content of this publication has not been approved by the United Nations and does not reflect the views of the United Nations or its officials or Member States.

Summary:

Research background. The increasing environmental concerns due to fossil fuel consumption and industrial wastewater pollution necessitate sustainable solutions for bioenergy production and wastewater treatment. Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME), a high-strength industrial wastewater, poses significant environmental challenges. Microbial Electrolysis Cells (MEC) and Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) offer promising avenues for bioenergy recovery from such wastewaters.

Experimental approach. Dual-chamber H-type reactors equipped with proton exchange membranes were employed to separately assess MEC and MFC performance in bioenergy production from POME. Hydrogen generation and COD removal in MECs were evaluated at varying applied voltages and influent COD concentrations, while the impact of external resistance on power output and COD reduction was investigated in MFCs. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was used to optimise these operational parameters for maximal bioenergy recovery and efficient wastewater treatment.

Results and conclusions. The findings revealed that hydrogen production and COD removal efficiency in MECs were maximised at low influent COD levels and low voltage supply. The MEC demonstrated effective hydrogen production and wastewater treatment, while the MFC achieved significant electricity generation and COD reduction. Field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed the formation of biofilms on the electrodes, indicating active microbial communities involved in bioenergy generation. A trade-off between power density and COD removal efficiency in MFCs was observed, with medium resistance levels yielding maximum power output. The integration of MEC and MFC showed potential for treating high-strength industrial wastewater like POME, offering a greener and more energy-efficient approach.

Novelty and scientific contribution. This study demonstrates the potential feasibility of integrating MEC and MFC technologies for simultaneous bioenergy production and wastewater treatment from POME. It advances knowledge in biochemical engineering by optimising operational conditions for enhanced bioenergy recovery and highlights the role of microbial communities in bioelectrochemical systems. The findings provide a foundation for future research on sustainable bioenergy production and contribute to environmental sustainability efforts.

^#These authors contributed equally