An economical upflow bio-filter circuit (UBFC): a biocatalyst microbial fuel cell for sulfate–sulfide rich wastewater treatment

Abstract

In this study of the UBFC, a biocatalyst MFC was applied to remove sulfate–sulfide in wastewater (initial concentration: 350–450 mg L⁻¹). Two sizes of the UBFC (40 L and 250 L) were scaled up from the original trial size (4 L) and their capability and feasibility were tested. The results revealed that the sulfide removal efficiency was over 70% without chemical and nutritional addition. The minimum cost of the 250 L plant prototype was US$1280 m⁻³ and the operating power consumption was less than 0.32 kWh m⁻³. The biofactors that enhance the efficiency of the economical UBFC are biocatalyst producers such as the Clostridium sp., Pseudomonas sp., Limnobacter sp. and Sinorhizobium sp. and sulfate–sulfide reducers such as the Sphaerotilus sp. and Limnobacter sp. This work suggests that the economical UBFC plant prototype has potential for application in sulfate–sulfide rich wastewater treatment.