Performance evaluation of microbial fuel cell using ceramic anode blended with rice husk ash and mild steel dust

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) technology effectively addresses the dual challenges of wastewater treatment and energy generation, but its widespread application is restricted by the high cost of electrodes. To overcome this, the present study developed a low-cost ceramic anode by blending rice husk ash, mild steel dust, and soil, with the dual objective of treating dye-laden industrial effluents and generating bioelectricity. Two identical MFC configurations were operated using real textile dye wastewater (COD: 2,600 mg/L): one with a ceramic matrix anode containing 50% rice husk ash (MFC 1) and the other without rice husk ash (MFC 2). MFC 1 achieved a maximum open circuit voltage of 958 mV, power density of 250 mW/m², coulombic efficiency (CE) of 2.98%, COD removal efficiency of 88%, and color removal efficiency of 92%, outperforming MFC 2 (577 mV, 86 mW/m², 1.74%, 67%, and 72%, respectively). The incorporation of rice husk ash enhanced anode porosity and microbial attachment, while mild steel dust improved conductivity and mechanical stability. Our findings highlight the potential of rice husk ash and mild steel dust in ceramic anode as a low-cost, sustainable alternative to conventional electrodes for scaling up MFCs in industrial wastewater treatment and bioenergy recovery.