Bioelectricity Production from Abattoir Wastewater Using Microbial Fuel Cells Connected in Series

In a bid to further study the possibility of producing bioelectricity from microbial fuel cell (MFC), this study aims at increasing the production of bioelectricity in abattoir wastewater. The wastewater from abattoir was used to construct three different microbial fuel cells and they were connected in series. The voltage of electricity produced was recorded over the period of three days. The physiochemical property of the wastewater was determined. Also the microorganisms present in the wastewater was quantified using pour plate method and the bacteria was identified. The MFC connected in series gave a high voltage, 1.98V. The wastewater had a pH of 6.08 and temperature of 31.4oC. The result of the physiochemical properties of the wastewater which included; electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, dissolved oxygen and BOD are 15,150 μ/cm3, 10,230, 8.20 mg/L, 6.00 mg/L respectively. The abattoir wastewater has a high average aerobic count of 2.56×1023 cfu/ml and averageanaerobic count of 1.35×1023 cfu/ml. Isolated bacterial species includes; Actinobacillus, Aeromonas, Bacillus, Citrobacter, Clostridium, Enterobacter, Enterococcus, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Micrococcus, Neisseria, Proteus, Psuedomonas aeruginosa, Samonella, Serrentia, Shigella, Staphylococcus and Streptococcus. This study recommends newer means of harvesting electrons from the microbes.