Influence of Aquatic Plants and Electrode Spacing on Chemical Oxygen Demand Removal and Bioelectricity Generation

Abstract

Wastewater treatment presents a significant challenge, particularly in rural areas where treatment capacity is insufficient. This study explored the potential of microbial photosynthetic cells (MPFCs) for chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and simultaneous electricity generation. Six MPFCs were operated for 60 days with wastewater, using the plants Pistia stratiotes and Eichhornia crassipes, with varying spacing between the graphite electrodes. The best COD removal (90.80%) and bioelectricity production (4.21 MW/m²) were obtained with Pistia stratiotes. These results highlight the relevance of PMFCs as a sustainable alternative for energy recovery and wastewater treatment.