Title: Landfill leachate treatment and energy generation using microbial fuel cell

Authors: Pawan Kumar Subramaniam; Lee Martin; Peter Grasel; Kamal Tawfiq; Gang Chen

Addresses: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA ' Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard M.S. 49 Tallahassee, Florida 32399, USA ' Florida Department of Environmental Protection, 3900 Commonwealth Boulevard M.S. 49 Tallahassee, Florida 32399, USA ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA ' Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering 2525 Pottsdamer Street, Tallahassee, FL 32310, USA

Abstract: The objective of this study is to investigate the feasibility of the usage of microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology for landfill leachate decomposition and power generation. Landfill leachate collected from landfills located in Northwest Florida was tested in a laboratory scale MFC to provide evidence that landfill leachate can be decomposed and electrons released from leachate decomposition in the anodic chamber can be transported and consumed in the cathodic chamber and consequently, electricity can be generated. The proposed MFC technology is of great benefit to landfills located in remote territories in terms of energy generation and environmental protection.

Keywords: landfill leachate treatment; energy generation; microbial fuel cells; MFC; Florida; USA; United States; power generation; leachate decomposition; electricity generation; remote areas; environmental protection.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEE.2012.050799

International Journal of Environmental Engineering, 2012 Vol.4 No.3/4, pp.269 - 282

Published online: 31 Dec 2014 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article