The aim of this work was to evaluate the performance of a single chamber microbial fuel cells (SC-MFCs) equipped with an anion exchange membrane, Zirfon membrane (ZF) with actual leachate as substrate, in terms of the volumetric power (P-v) delivered and chemical oxygen removal efficiency (eta(COD)). The SC-MFCs were loaded with three different mixtures of leachate with sulphate-reducing inocula (SR-I) as biocatalyst: 30% leachate + 70% SR-I (Period I); 70% leachate + 30% SR-I (Period II) and 50% leachate + 50% SR-I (Period III). From the start of the operation of the SC-MFC equipped with ZF, the P-v values shown were encouraging: 4260 and 8050 mW m(-3) for Periods I and II, respectively. Finally, in the Period III, the P-v reached was up to 10 380 mW m(-3), whereas the SC-MFC fitted with Nafion 117 membrane (NF) used as reference, delivered a substantially lower P-v of only 104 mW m(-3). In conclusion, membrane type played a significant role: the SC-MFC fitted with ZF in terms of P-v outperformed the SC-MFC fitted with NF. The proportion of leachate and inoculum seemed to have a positive effect on the power delivery of only the MFC equipped with ZF, likely related to increased organic matter availability with increased concentration of leachate. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.