OneWater-driven waste-to-watt innovation: Electroactive Polymer-Metal oxide nanostructures for integrated energy production and reuse of wastewater.
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75% confidenceThis study developed high-performance bioanodes based on polypyrrole-titanium dioxide nanocomposites for microbial fuel cells, enhancing electrochemical activity and microbial electron transfer. The bioanodes demonstrated superior performance, achieving a peak voltage of 998 ± 10 mV when operated with Citrobacter freundii. The innovation supports the OneWater paradigm, promoting integrated management of water resources and addressing water scarcity, energy demand, and environmental sustainability.
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Abstract
The OneWater paradigm emphasizes integrated and circular management of water resources, promoting technologies that simultaneously address water scarcity, energy demand, and environmental sustainability. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) support these objectives by converting organic pollutants into renewable bioelectricity while treating wastewater. In this study, high-performance bioanodes based on polypyrrole-titanium dioxide (PPy-TiO 2 ) nanocomposites were developed on nickel foam (PPy-TiO 2 /NF) and graphite sheet (PPy- TiO 2 /GS) substrates to enhance electrochemical activity and microbial electron transfer. Comprehensive structural characterization (XRD, FTIR, SEM, TEM, SAED, EDX) confirmed the uniform incorporation of anatase-phase TiO 2 within a conductive PPy matrix, forming a porous and electroactive surface. Electrochemical analyses revealed significantly reduced charge-transfer resistance and enhanced pseudocapacitive behavior for PPy-TiO 2 /NF, which translated into superior MFC performance. When operated with Citrobacter freundii, the PPy- TiO 2 /NF anode achieved a peak voltage of 998 ± 10 mV, maximum power density of 2411 ± 30 mW/m 2 , current density of 2416 ± 25 mA/m 2 , and high treatment efficiency with 86.40 ± 0.8 % COD removal and 35.56 ± 1.7 % coulombic efficiency. Dense, viable biofilms on the 3D nickel foam scaffold further supported enhanced electron recovery. To assess practical scalability, three PPy-TiO 2 /NF-based MFC units were successfully stacked in series, generating >2.0 V sufficient to illuminate an LED bulb. Following treatment, the effluent was UV-disinfected and safely reused for non-potable applications such as landscape irrigation, demonstrating direct integration of wastewater treatment, energy recovery, and water reuse. These results highlight PPy-TiO 2 -modified electrodes as robust and sustainable candidates for decentralized circular water-energy systems under OneWater frameworks.