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The growing global sanitation crisis, with over two billion people lacking access to safe wastewater treatment, necessitates decentralized, affordable, and sustainable technologies. This study presents SustainCell, an innovative bioelectrochemical wastewater treatment system (Microbial Fuel Cell, MFC) that simultaneously treats wastewater and generates renewable electricity. The system integrates three key engineering innovations: (i) biochar-based electrodes synthesized from local agricultural waste (e.g., rice husks, coconut shells) to replace costly carbon materials; (ii) a modular, cartridge-type reactor enabling easy maintenance and scalability; and (iii) a smart IoT monitoring unit employing an ESP32 microcontroller for real-time tracking of voltage, pH, and temperature.
Laboratory and pilot-scale experiments using domestic wastewater demonstrated that SustainCell achieved COD removal efficiencies of up to 80% for synthetic and 60% for real wastewater, with a power density of 520 mW/m2 and Coulombic efficiency of 25%. The IoT system maintained a measurement accuracy within ±5% compared to laboratory instruments. Economic evaluation estimated a system cost below USD 50 per liter capacity, supporting
low-cost scalability. These results confirm the feasibility of a sustainable, locally sourced, and digitally
monitored MFC system for decentralized wastewater treatment. SustainCell contributes to both engineering innovation and environmental sustainability, advancing practical implementation of bioelectrochemical systems in rural and off-grid settings, aligned with UN SDGs 6 and 7.
Keywords: Microbial Fuel Cell, Biochar, Wastewater Treatment, IoT Monitoring, Decentralized
Sanitation, Sustainable Engineering