An evaluation of a laboratory scale chemical coagulation using aluminium chlorohydrate (1%) and polyamine (1%) coagulants on its effectiveness in the removal of bulk inert pollutant contents such as particulate chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity to obtain clean effluent discharge and most cost-effectively treated effluent using a jar test was conducted in this current study. This study aimed to find the viable inert removal coagulant between the two above-mentioned coagulants in order to achieve zero liquid effluent discharge (ZLED). The preliminary results showed that adding variable dosages of polyamine and 50% aluminium chlorohydrate combined coagulants dosages presented an improved particulate chemical oxygen demand, color, and turbidity removal efficiencies. The ascertained turbidity removal efficiency using the combined coagulation dosage of polyamine–aluminium chlorohydrate (PAC) treatment was 90.50% and 59.36% particulate chemcial oxygen demand removal, as comparable to polyamine alone with particulate chemical oxygen demand removal of 50% and turbidity of 75%. Likewise, an appreciable removal efficacy was observed as the aluminium chlorohydrate treatment alone was for particulate chemical oxygen demand and turbidity was 37% and 54%, respectively. In essence, this study emphasized the knowledge gap of the significant effect of the polymeric polyamine flocculant strength in adopting the combined coagulation dosage method to improve its coagulation efficiency and the high agglomeration on suspended solids, thereby, removing more of the unwanted inert contents from brewery wastewater. To determine zero liquid effluent discharge, this study clearly recommended an integrated treatment approach, microbial fuel cell integrated with a lab scale chemical coagulation technique for efficient non-biodegradable pollutant removal.

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology turns chemical energy into bioelectricity in a clean and efficient manner, lowering carbon emissions and increasing bioenergy production. It is a multifaceted technique that has the potential to be a panacea for clean water scarcity and sustainable, renewable energy. In this review, the approach focuses on scaling-up and application prospects at a commercial scale. An outlook on various, previously tried methodologies was generated in order to establish a viable bioelectricity scaling-up approach that is also cost-effective in its design. Precise themes were followed to evaluate previously produced models and methodologies for MFCs: principle and anatomical mechanisms, basic applications, bioelectricity scaling-up potentials from previous work and limitations, then an outlook on MFC feasibility and its wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) energy supply chain. The goal of this paper is to derive a viable approach from prior research in order to comprehend how MFC technology may be scaled-up for commercial and practical power output. Essentially, this article summarizes the current energy predicaments faced by South Africa and proposes MFCs as a new knowledge-contributing technology with electricity scaling-up potential. Conclusively, more research on MFC technique scaling-up operating factors is recommended.

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) have garnered significant attention due to their capacity to generate electricity using renewable and carbon-neutral energy sources such as wastewater. Extensive experimental work and modeling techniques have been employed to dissect these processes and understand their respective impacts on electricity generation. The driving force is to enhance MFC performance for practical applications commercially. Among the various statistical modeling approaches, one particularly robust tool is the Design of Experiments (DoE). It serves to establish the relationships between different variables that influence MFC performance and allows for the optimization of the MFC configuration and operation for scaled-up performances in terms of bioelectricity generation. This study focused on optimizing microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for bioelectricity production using industrial wastewater treatment, employing the Box–Behnken design (BBD) methodology. Through an analysis of response surface models and ANOVA tests, it was found that a combined approach of reduced quadratic, reduced two-factor interaction, and linear models yielded sound results, particularly in voltage yield, COD removal, and current density. Second-order regression models predicted optimal conditions for various parameters, with surface area, temperature, and catholyte dosage identified as critical input variables for optimization. Under these conditions, conducted by the four-factor and three-level Box–Behnken design methodology in a double-chamber MFC unit considering eight output variables—CCV yield, % COD removal, current density, power density, % TSS removal, % CE, and % ${\mathrm{P}\mathrm{O}}_4^{3-}$—the optimum values were 700 mV, 54.4%, 54.4 mA/m², 73.7 mW/m², 99%, 21.2%, and 100%, respectively. At optimum operating conditions, the results revealed a desirability of 76.6% out of a total of 92 iterations. The paper highlights the effectiveness of statistical ANOVA fit-statistics modeling and optimization in enhancing DCMFC performance, recommending its use as a sustainable bioenergy source. Furthermore, validation results supported the above optimization output response findings and confirmed the viability of biorefinery wastewater as an anolyte for scaling up DCMFC bioelectricity generation.

This study evaluates the potential of biorefinery and dairy wastewater as substrates for electricity generation in double chamber Microbial Fuel Cells (DCMFC), focusing on their microbial taxonomy and electrochemical viability. Taxonomic analysis using 16S/18S rDNA-targeted DGGE and high-throughput sequencing identified Proteobacteria as dominant in biorefinery biomass, followed by Firmicutes and Bacteriodota. In dairy biomass, Lactobacillus (77.36%) and Clostridium (15.70%) were most prevalent. Biorefinery wastewater exhibited the highest bioelectrochemical viability due to its superior electrical conductivity and salinity, achieving a voltage yield of 65 mV, compared to 75.2 mV from mixed substrates and 1.7 mV from dairy wastewater. Elevated phosphate levels in dairy wastewater inhibited bioelectrochemical processes. This study recommends Biorefinery wastewater as the most suitable purely organic substrate for efficient bioelectricity generation and scaling up of MFCs, emphasising the importance of substrate selection for optimal energy output for practical and commercial viability.

Owing to the depletion of fossil fuels, rising energy costs, and environmental pollution, there has been a growing focus on exploring and exploiting renewable energy sources. This study aims to demonstrate the modeling of a grid‐connected double‐chamber microbial fuel cell (DCMFC) biomass energy system via MATLAB Simulink software. The experimental measurements obtained from DCMFC outputs served as the basis for developing the inverter‐grid connection model and simulation output in MATLAB Simulink software. Briefly, the DCMFC DC boost voltage was connected to the positive and negative buses of the three‐phase DC‒AC inverter circuit, with switching patterns controlled by gate pulses in each transistor. Full square wave single‐stage PWM pulses are generated by the gate for control. The power generated by the inverter was measured via a three‐phase VI block for analysis, with voltages and currents displayed via a scope. To address potential noise during switching, an LC filter is employed to suppress noise output and stabilize power generation. Another power meter measures power from the grid, with waveforms displayed via scope blocks. Before synchronization between power from the DCMFC and the grid occurs, four requirements must be met: the grid voltage must match the inverter output voltage, the inverter frequency must match the grid frequency, the phase sequence must be the same, and the phase angle of the inverter must match that of the grid. Additionally, Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)‐specific requirements were evaluated during the simulation for this study. In addition, this study critically examined whether the DCMFC inverter model conforms to conventional requirements, International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standards, and IEEE standards for the integration of inverters into the grid. Compared with previous studies on inverter modeling for grid connections, past studies have emphasized the efficacy of biomass power plants and different inverter topologies for photovoltaic (PV) systems. The current study focuses on optimizing a multilevel inverter‐based model, achieving low total harmonic distortion (THD) below IEEE standards. In this study, the use of a multilevel inverter configuration proved highly effective in reducing the harmonic content, leading to synchronized phase sequences and enhanced coherence between the grid and inverter voltages. With a THD of 4.75% at 50 Hz, supported by a harmonic distortion value of 422.5, the chosen configuration significantly minimized the harmonic distortion. This success underpins the system’s reliability and efficiency, offering promising implications for practical applications.

In this present study, the potential application of DCMFC for the treatment of three different sourced industrial wastewater streams: biorefinery, dairy and mixed streams was investigated. Operating conditions were optimised using the Box Behnken design in response surface methodology (RSM) with three validation experimental runs. The effect of process variables, i.e., HRT (48 h), catholyte dose (0.1 gmol/L) and electrode surface area (three carbon rods argumentation-m²) on the production of electricity as voltage yield (mV), power density (mW/m²), current density (mA/m²), Columbic efficiency (%) CE and Gibbs free energy correlation with the electromotive force of the DCMFC system. Experimental results obtained were a positive response towards the predictive values according to the DoE numerical optimisation sequence. At numerical optimum MFC conditions stated above, validation experimental responses of voltage yield by biorefinery wastewater were 645.2 mV, mixed wastewater was 549 mV, and dairy wastewater was 358 mV maximum yields. The power densities and current densities were attained, for biorefinery, mixed wastewater and dairy wastewater sources respectively as; 62 mW/m², 50 mW/m² and 27.2 mW/m², then current densities of 50 mA/m², 44,008 mA/m² and 18 mA/m². The coulombic efficiencies of 0.34%, 0.75% and 0.22%, respectively, were achieved. The validation of predicted optimum operating conditions was successfully attained, especially through the biorefinery wastewater organic substrate. This article articulates that it is highly imperative to choose the most suitable wastewater source as the viable electron donor towards scaling up and maximising the efficiency of generating electricity in the double chamber microbial fuel cell (DCMFC). Moreover, the findings of the current study demonstrate that the DCMFC can be further upscaled through a series connection in a fed-batch mode of operation using a well-designed and simulated process control system that has been computationally designed and modelled using first order MFC model bioenergy generating models MATLAB Simulink and Simscape electrical software. These findings of the simulations were successful and illustrated that an MFC power output can be successfully stepped to be a viable bio-electrochemical technology for both industrial wastewater (IWW) treatment and simultaneous sustainable power generation.