This paper describes the potential for algal biomass production in conjunction with wastewater treatment
and power generation within a fully biotic Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). The anaerobic biofilm in the
anodic half-cell is generating current, whereas the phototrophic biofilm on the cathode is providing the
oxygen for the Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) and forming biomass. The MFC is producing electricity
with simultaneous biomass regeneration in the cathodic half-cell, which is dependent on the nutrient
value of the anodic feedstock. Growth of algal biomass in the cathode was monitored, assessed and
compared against the MFC power production (charge transfer), during this process. MFC generation of
electricity activated the cation crossover for the formation of biomass, which has been harvested and
reused as energy source in a closed loop system. It can be concluded that the nutrient reclamation and
assimilation into new biomass increases the energy efficiency. This work is presenting a simple and selfsustainable
MFC operation with minimal dependency on chemicals and an energy generation system
utilising waste products and maximising energy turnover through an additional biomass recovery.
© 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license