[Electricity production through treatment of simulated wastewater of food industries using dual chamber microbial fuel cell [MFC] with nafions membrane]

Microbial fuel cells are the electrochemical exchangers that convert the microbial reduced power, generated via the metabolism of organic substrate, to electrical energy. The aim of this study is to find out the rate of produced electricity and also treatment rate of simulated wastewater of food industries using dual chamber microbial fuel cell [MFC] without mediator and catalyst. MFC used in this study was consisted of two compartments including anaerobic anode chamber containing simulated food industries wastewater as synthetic substrate and aerobic cathode chamber containing phosphate buffer, respectively. These two chambers were separated by proton exchange membrane made of Nafion. Produced voltage and current intensity were measured using a digital ohm meter and the amount of electricity was calculated by Ohm's law. Effluent from the anode compartment was tested for COD, BOD5, NH3, P, TSS, VSS, SO42- and alkalinity in accordance with the Standard Methods. In this study, maximum current intensity and power production at anode surface in the OLR of 0.79 Kg/m3.d were measured as 1.71 mA and 140 mW/m2, respectively. The maximum voltage of 0.422 V was obtained in the OLR of 0.36 Kg/m3.d. The greatest columbic efficiency of the system was 15% in the OLR of 0.18 Kg/m3.d. Maximum removal efficiency of COD, BOD5, NH3, P, TSS, VSS, SO42- and alkalinity, were obtained 78, 72, 66, 7, 56, 49, 26 and 40%, respectively. The findings showed that the MFC can be used as a new technology to produce electricity from renewable organic materials and for the treatment of different municipal and industrial wastewaters such as food industries

[Determination of lead levelin lettuce in Kerman]

Heavy metals are chemical permanent pollutants that they do not biodegrade like organic compounds. The high concentration of lead in lettuce can have harmful effect on health. The source of the lead in lettuce can be city industrial and domestic wastewater, agricultural waste and also air pollution for the lettuce near the roads. The lettuce has high capacity of store and absorption of lead. Considering high consumption of lettuce, the control of lead in lettuce is very important for health. In this study 20 samples of lettuce used in kerman in 2009 was provided. After preparation, the lead content of samples was measured by atomic absorption. All the tests were measured by standard methods for the examination of water and wastewater. The mean concentration of lead in the lettuce imported from Dezfol Jahrom, Yazd and Varamin were 0.02, 0.05, 0.03, 0.07 [[micro]g/g] respectively. The mean concentration of lead in all the citis was lower than WHO guideline. According to the results, the lead level in the lettuce of the countries such as Turkey and Kenya was higher than that of used in Kerman