A single chamber microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) was constructed to treat olive oil mill wastewater (OOMW) biologically and produce hydrogen simultaneously. To characterize the optimal MEC condition, the MEC was fed with synthetic wastewater (SW) having a phenol concentration of 250 mg l⁻¹. Therefore, the influence of different applied voltages and cathode materials was explored and the optimum condition for MEC was determined, which was when the stainless steel cathode was implemented and the external voltage of 0.6 V was supplied. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of 62% and current density of 362 mA m⁻² were obtained for OOMW treatment, while COD removal of 73% and the current density of 274.4 mA m⁻² were attained for SW treatment in this MEC at 0.6 V. Hydrogen production rate was 0.045 m³ H₂ m⁻³d⁻¹ for SW and 0.053 m³ H₂ m⁻³d⁻¹ for OOMW. Furthermore, the coulombic efficiency and cathodic hydrogen recovery were 23% and 81%, respectively. Finally, MEC performance in terms of electrical current generation, wastewater treatment and hydrogen production was compared to some similar reported studies.

建造了一个单室微生物电解槽 (MEC) 以生物处理橄榄油厂废水 (OOMW) 并同时产生氢气。为了表征最佳 MEC 条件，向 MEC 供给苯酚浓度为 250 mg l ^-1的合成废水 (SW) 。因此，探讨了不同外加电压和正极材料的影响，确定了MEC的最佳条件，即实施不锈钢正极，外加0.6 V电压。对于 OOMW 处理，化学需氧量 (COD) 去除率为 62%，电流密度为 362 mA m ^{-2 ，而 COD 去除率为 73%，电流密度为 274.4 mA m -2}在该 MEC 中以 0.6 V 进行 SW 处理，获得了 0.045 m ³ H ₂ m ^-3 d ^-1的 SW 和 0.053 m ³ H ₂ m ^-3 d ^-1的 OOMW。此外，库仑效率和阴极氢气回收率分别为 23% 和 81%。最后，将 MEC 在电流产生、废水处理和氢气生产方面的性能与一些类似的报告研究进行了比较。