Improved Treatment and Bioenergy Recovery From Fish Market Wastewater Using Sediment and Plant Microbial Fuel Cells

ABSTRACT Fish market wastewater has high content of organic pollutants that quickly decompose crustacean and fish residues. This study investigates the performance of sediment microbial fuel cell (SMFC) and plant microbial fuel cell (PMFC) systems where mint plants are used to improve the microbial activity and electricity generation. Over 42 days, both systems were monitored for voltage output, power density, and removal of COD, BOD, oil and grease, and TSS. PMFC delivered a higher peak voltage (181.5 mV) and maximum power density of 25.6 mW/m 2 that was superior to SMFC which delivered 12.8 mW/m 2 and whose voltage decreased after 840 h. Pollutant removal was also superior in PMFC, oil and grease pollutant removal decreased from 2710 to 59 mg/L as compared to 90 mg/L in SMFC. Both systems achieved similar reductions in TSS to below 50 mg/L. Overall, PMFC was shown to be more efficient in wastewater treatment and the bioelectricity production, which promotes its prospects of sustainable wastewater management.