Application of Microbial Fuel Cell Technology in Potato Processing Industry

Abstract

The potato processing industry is among the biggest water-consuming industries, using an average of 17 L of water per 1 kg of processed product. Taking into account that the potato is the fourth-most-important non-cereal food crop with a global production of 376 million tons a year, this branch is a large wastewater producer. Potato-processing wastewater is highly loaded and thus difficult to treat through conventional methods, especially when a low energetic input for environmental benignancy is required. In this review, it was shown that microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are an excellent technology for sustainable potato wastewater treatment. MFCs allow for potato wastewater COD removal with efficiencies as high as 99%, which is accompanied by electricity production that may reach 3.7 W/m2. Thus, the recently published research reviewed in this paper indicates that simultaneous power production and removal of chemical oxygen demand make MFCs superior to conventional treatment methods. Encouraging results and the unique advantages of MFC technology, like significant water and energy use reduction, give a promising perspective on potato-processing wastewater treatments.