Investigating the influence of biomass-derived organic substrates on power generation with benzene bioremediation in microbial fuel cell

The organic substrate is a critical factor influencing electron generation in microbial fuel cells (MFCs), yet conventional organic substrates are often inefficient and economically unviable. Emerging as possible alternatives for the usual glucose and acetate are biomass-based organic substrates. Hence, in this study, the electricity generation potential of three biomass-derived substrates—potato peel waste (PPW), corncob flour (CCF), and rotten rice flour (RRF)—was comparatively evaluated in single-chamber MFCs that was operated for 35 days using the substrate amounts ranging from 20 to 100 g. The results revealed that RRF-fed MFCs exhibited the highest power density (4.76 mW/m²), followed by CCF (3.22 mW/m²) and PPW (2.49 mW/m²). Voltage increased with substrate amounts from 20 to 60 g but significantly decreased at higher amounts (80–100 g). Kinetic analysis showed that RRF-fed MFCs were the least inhibited (60 g). These findings were consistent with the observed voltage decreases at high substrate amounts. Moreover, the RRF-fed MFCs achieved the highest benzene bioremediation efficiency (84%, at 60 g). The benzene bioremediation efficiency of MFCs fed with PPW and CCF was also highest at 60 g, with values of 78% and 80%, respectively. Anodic bacterial analysis revealed that Staphylococcus sp. and Bacillus sp. were the dominant strains responsible for the electrogenic activity.