Investigating energy generation potential of whey wastewater using a sediment microbial fuel cell

This study intends to employ sediment microbial fuel cells (SMFCs) for energy production to process cheese whey, a frequently untreated material in small businesses that can result in environmental issues. To understand the energy potential of whey, this study examines the influence of whey concentration and sediment composition on the microbial community and the relationship between electrical potential-power density-removal percentage of organic for whey removal. Microbial study indicated that different whey dilution ratios (1/25 vs. 1/5) influenced microbial populations: Pseudonocardia and Ralstonia species were predominant in the 1/25 system, but Clostridium and Bacteroides species were more prevalent in the 1/5 system. The maximum electrical potential recorded was 592 mV. The highest power density value was140 mW/m² and the maximum energy production was 8.9 W·sec. An investigation of chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal revealed that the best removal rates obtained were between 95% and 70%. pH, temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS) and conductivity values were measured before and after the systems were operated. Increased conductivity and TDS measurements across all systems indicate elevated ion concentrations. Moreover, the pH fluctuations differed between the systems. These findings highlight the significance of whey content, sediment properties, and MFC design in enhancing energy generation and organic contaminant elimination in wastewater treatment processes.