Work

A Biofloc Technology–Microbial Fuel Cell Coupled System for Enhanced Water Purification, Biofloc Regulation and Energy Recovery in Aquaculture

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Low organic carbon utilization efficiency is a core bottleneck restricting the application of biofloc technology (BFT) in intensive aquaculture, accompanied by limited total nitrogen removal, excessive biofloc accumulation, and underutilized chemical energy in organic wastes. To address this issue, this study develops a novel biofloc technology–microbial fuel cell (BFT-MFC) coupled system that exploits surplus carbon sources in BFT as electron donors for bioelectricity generation while synergistically enhancing water purification performance. Compared with a conventional standalone BFT system, the coupled system was systematically evaluated in terms of water quality regulation, biofloc control and electricity generation performance. Results showed that the BFT-MFC system maintained relatively stable dissolved oxygen, pH, and temperature throughout the operation period. The ammonia nitrogen concentration remained relatively low in the BFT-MFC system, although a transient increase to approximately 0.35 mg/L occurred around day 20 before subsequently declining, and total nitrogen fluctuated within 4.29–12.87 mg/L, with substantially less accumulation than that observed in the BFT system, in contrast to the control group, where TN continuously rose to a peak of 23.55 mg/L. Total organic carbon was stabilized within a narrower range of 150–245 mg/L, compared with the wide fluctuation of 129.6–360 mg/L in the single BFT system. Additionally, the coupled system exhibited lower net biofloc accumulation based on floc-volume measurements, while maintaining effective water-quality regulation, and the integrated MFC delivered a maximum output voltage of 295.9 mV and a peak power density of 1716.8 mW m−2. Overall, the BFT-MFC coupled system integrates wastewater purification, biofloc regulation and energy recovery into a single unit, offering a promising sustainable strategy for industrial recirculating aquaculture.

Source: Water

DOI: 10.3390/w18172115

Authors: Changwei Li, Zhenbo Ge, Yubing Lu, Limin Dai

Institution: Jiangsu University

Language: English

Topic: Microbial Fuel Cells and Bioremediation

Subfield: Environmental Engineering

Field: Environmental Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

SDGs: Clean water and sanitation, Affordable and clean energy, Responsible consumption and production, Climate action

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $3,137