Electricity production during the treatment of real electroplating wastewater containing Cr6+ using microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) was employed to dispose Cr6+ in real electroplating wastewater and generate electricity simultaneously. The experiments were carried out in a dual-chamber MFC. Under the condition of pH 2 and using graphite paper as the cathode electrode chromium removal and power density were highest. Moreover, increasing initial concentration of Cr6+ could enhance the power density. The results indicated that when treating a real electroplating wastewater containing Cr6+ with the initial concentration of 204 ppm in the MFC, the maximum power density of 1600 mW/m(2) was generated at a columbic efficiency of 12%. In addition, 99.5% Cr6+ and 66.2% total Cr were removed through reduction Of Cr2O72- to Cr2O3 precipitating on the surface of cathode electrode. MFC was proved to be a promising technology for removing Cr6+ from electroplating wastewater. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.