This paper describes the suitability of the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) for generation of
electrical power with a simultaneous synthesis of active catholyte in the form of caustic
solution. The active solution formed inside a terracotta based MFC reactor was a product of
self-powered wastewater electrolysis utilizing i) wastewater with added sodium acetate as a
carbon source and ii) neat urine. The catholyte solution that has been actively synthesized
was harvested and used for precipitation of heavy metals such as: iron, copper and zinc�…

This study presents a simple and sustainable Microbial Fuel Cell as a standalone, self-
powered reactor for in situ wastewater electrolysis, recovering nitrogen from wastewater. A
process is proposed whereby the MFC electrical performance drives the electrolysis of
wastewater towards the self-generation of catholyte within the same reactor. The MFCs were
designed to harvest the generated catholyte in the internal chamber, which showed that
liquid production rates are largely proportional to electrical current generation. The catholyte�…