BIODEGRADATION OF POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS (PAHS) USING MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS (MFCS) IN THE CONTAMINATED SEDIMENT AND WASTEWATER

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most prevalent contaminants found in the soil and water. They have received significant attentions in order to be kept under the threshold limit due to their persistency and effects on the environment. So, different strategies have been utilized to remove PAHs from the soil and water; physical/chemical methods that are known and used for a long time and bioremediation methods. However, all these conventional methods, due to their non-environmental friendly nature, high cost and low efficiency, could not be good solutions. Therefore, an environmental-friendly method is needed for the treatment of contaminated sediments and wastewater. In this study, the biodegradation of PAHs, particularly naphthalene, acenaphthene and phenanthrene using Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) applied for the sediment and wastewater was investigated in three phases of MFCs including sediment-MFC with aerobic cathode, sediment-MFC with anaerobic cathode, and air-cathode MFC filled with wastewater.