Hexavalent Chromium Treatment Using Biochar in Constructed Wetland-Microbial Fuel Cell.

Abstract

Heavy metal pollution is primarily caused by mining activities. Cr (VI) is one of the highest toxic heavy metals and poses the greatest environmental threat. The accumulation of Cr (VI) in the organism or the food chain results in chronic damage. A constructed wetland is an imitation of an ecological wetland that processes effluent and microbial fuel cell is a bioelectricity generation system. The effectiveness of a constructed wetland-microbial fuel cell in removing hexavalent chromium from synthetic effluent was investigated. The CW-MFC underwent testing at different concentrations (25-100 mg/l) and hydraulic retention times (48 hours) after being modified with biochar. Anode, biochar, and cathode effluents were gathered and analyzed. Degradation was observed to be nearly complete in all three layers (99%) of Cr (VI) and (67-97%) of COD. Microbial diversity profiling enables the observation of total microbial diversity and diversification. The impact of chromium on microorganisms will be assessed through the observation of various enzyme activities. This preliminary investigation will indicate whether the constructed wetland microbial fuel has the capability to remove hexavalent chromium in higher concentrations.