Microbial fuel-cell technology for the treatment of dairy wastewater and concurrent generation of energy

Abstract

Water pollution, which appears to be a global concern, is mostly caused by the discharge of several toxic compounds by various industries such as textiles, pulp and paper, and dairy sectors. Dairy wastewaters are difficult to manage because they include a wide range of contaminants. Wastewater treatment is an expensive and energy-intensive method that requires substantial energy to fulfil the energy demands of rising human population. Renewable energy-based wastewater treatment is a feasible option for overcoming these concerns. Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology has shown promise as a sustainable strategy, combining energy and nutrient recovery to generate bioelectricity. MFCs can be employed in wastewater treatment, green power generation, biohydrogen synthesis, and ecologically friendly sewage treatment processes. This chapter focuses on different types of industrial wastewater and their physical, chemical, and biological treatment methods, as well as MFC technology and its techniques utilized for treating dairy wastewater, providing beneficial knowledge of combining it with currently employed conventional wastewater treatment procedures to achieve the degradation of various dairy contaminants. The chapter also discusses the types, processes, applications, challenges, and future prospects of wastewater treatment-related MFCs, with the goal of industrialization in the near future, leading to greener fuels and a more sustainable environment.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.2166/9781789063813_0081

Journal

Resource Recovery from Industrial Wastewater through Microbial Electrochemical Technologies

Year

2024