While oil prices raise and the supply remains unsteady, it may be beneficial to use the high content
of energy available in food processing wastes, such as cheese whey waste, by converting it to bioenergy. As well,
there have been many new waste biotreatment technologies developed recently, which may well be used directly to
food processing wastes. Microbial fuel cell represents a new technology for simultaneous use of waste materials and
bioelectricity generation. In this study, bioelectricity generation with whey degradation was investigated in a twochamber
microbial fuel cell with mediators.
E. coli
was able to use the carbohydrate found in whey to generate
bioelectricity. The open-circuit voltage in absence of mediator was 751.5mV at room temperature. The voltage was
stable for more than 24 h. Riboflavin and humic acid were used as conceivable mediators. The results showed that
humic acid was a few times more effective than Riboflavin. Additionally, four chemicals employed as catholyte.
Based on polarization curve, FeCl
3 (É) was the best. Maximum power generation and current were 324.8ìW and
1194.6ìA, respectively.
