Bio-Electrochemical Evaluation of Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment and Simultaneous Bioenergy Recovery

Onyedikachi, Cyril Emereole and Tota-Maharaj, Kiran (2024) Bio-Electrochemical Evaluation of Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cells for Wastewater Treatment and Simultaneous Bioenergy Recovery. In: International Sustainable Ecological Engineering Design for Society (SEEDS) Conference 2024, 27-29 August 2024, Leeds Beckett University, Leeds, United Kingdom.

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Abstract

Addressing the urgent need for sustainable solutions in stormwater and wastewater treatment is a global concern, this study explores innovative methods for effective wastewater management and simultaneous resource recovery from the process. Traditional "grey infrastructure" techniques often fall short, leading to flooding, pollution, and overburdened treatment facilities. Additionally, conventional water treatment methods typically focus on pollutant removal, neglecting the potential for valuable resource recovery from wastewater streams. With increasing water scarcity, there is a great need for a paradigm shift from only pollutant removal from wastewater to simultaneous resource recovery in the wastewater treatment processes. Using the positivism approach, this research investigated the integration of constructed wetlands (CWs) with microbial fuel cells (MFCs) for dual purposes: enhancing wastewater treatment and generating bioenergy. A lab-scale trial with four CW configurations used a downhill vertical flow arrangement. These configurations incorporated aggregates, graphite plates, copper wires, granulated activated carbon, and stainless steel wire meshes to function as anodes and cathodes. Stormwater samples were tested for colour, turbidity, pH, and nitrate levels before and after treatment in the CW rigs. Results showed that influent stormwater quality significantly impacted effluent parameters, with higher influent levels resulting in higher effluent values. Notably, the pH levels in the effluent were mostly alkaline, which is suspected to have hindered power production in the CW-MFC systems. However, nitrate concentrations in the effluent were significantly reduced, aligning with studies demonstrating CWs' effectiveness in removing wastewater pollutants

Item Type:	Conference or Workshop Item (Paper)
Keywords:	Sustainable Drainage System, Constructed wetlands, Microbial fuel cell, Energy Recovery, Water and Wastewater, Wastewater resources and Flooding
Divisions:	Land and Property Management
Depositing User:	Professor Kiran Tota-Maharaj
Date Deposited:	17 Feb 2026 15:47
Last Modified:	17 Feb 2026 15:47
URI:	https://rau.repository.guildhe.ac.uk/id/eprint/17047

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