Investigation of the effect of ecological fuel cell integrated artificial wetland plants on bioelectricity production and wastewater treatment performance

In this study, it is aimed to determine the bioelectrical production potential and the effect of the plants cover on the treatment process of wastewater in the microcosm scale constructed wetland integrated ecological fuel cell modules. For the study under the terrain conditions, 4 modules with different plants(Typha latifolia L., Typha angustifolia L. (Typhaceae), Phragmites australis (Cav.) Trin. ex Steud. (Poaceae), Juncus gerardii Loisel. subsp. gerardii (Juncaceae) and Carex divisa Hudson. (Cyperaceaea)) and 1 unplanted control module with 2 repeats (totaly 10 modules) have been designed. Experiments were carried out in these modules. Potential experiments of bioremediation and bioelectric production continued for 88 days. As a result, it has been determined that planted CW-EFC modules have higher treatment efficiency than unplanted control module. The average COD, NH4+ and total phosphorus removal efficiencies in planted CW-EFC modules were found to be 85-88 %, 95-97 % and 95-97 %, respectively. However, the highest NO3- removal (63 %) was found to be in the unplanted control module. The average output voltage, power density, and coulombic efficiency of the modules were determined in CW-EFC modules with Typha angustifolia of 1.01±0.14 V, 7.47±13.7 mWatt/m2 and 8.28±10.4 %, respectively. The results show that the presence of plant cover in the CW-EFC matrix provides benefits for the yield efficiency and bioelectric production. It has also been found that organic compounds are responsible for the biodegradation and increase the microbial agents that catalyze electron flow towards to the anode. As a result, engineers designing such wetland systems are advised to design a constructed wetland ecological fuel cell in the CW-EFC module to maximize the treatment efficiency and bioelectricity production. As a result, engineers who design such wetland systems need to maximize the efficiency of their treatment and bioelectric production, it is recommended that the CW-EFC module design a planted constructed wetland ecological fuel cell.