Metagenomic Insights into Pollutants in Biorefinery and Dairy Wastewater: rDNA Dominance and Electricity Generation in Double Chamber Microbial Fuel Cells

This study evaluates the potential of biorefinery and dairy wastewater as substrates for electricity generation in double chamber Microbial Fuel Cells (DCMFC), focusing on their microbial taxonomy and electrochemical viability. Taxonomic analysis using 16S/18S rDNA-targeted DGGE and high-throughput...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Khaya Pearlman Shabangu, Manimagalay Chetty, Babatunde Femi Bakare
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-01-01
Series:Bioengineering
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2306-5354/12/1/88
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:This study evaluates the potential of biorefinery and dairy wastewater as substrates for electricity generation in double chamber Microbial Fuel Cells (DCMFC), focusing on their microbial taxonomy and electrochemical viability. Taxonomic analysis using 16S/18S rDNA-targeted DGGE and high-throughput sequencing identified Proteobacteria as dominant in biorefinery biomass, followed by Firmicutes and Bacteriodota. In dairy biomass, Lactobacillus (77.36%) and Clostridium (15.70%) were most prevalent. Biorefinery wastewater exhibited the highest bioelectrochemical viability due to its superior electrical conductivity and salinity, achieving a voltage yield of 65 mV, compared to 75.2 mV from mixed substrates and 1.7 mV from dairy wastewater. Elevated phosphate levels in dairy wastewater inhibited bioelectrochemical processes. This study recommends Biorefinery wastewater as the most suitable purely organic substrate for efficient bioelectricity generation and scaling up of MFCs, emphasising the importance of substrate selection for optimal energy output for practical and commercial viability.
ISSN:2306-5354