BACKGROUND Osmotic microbial fuel cells (OsMFCs) integrate microbial fuel cell (MFC) and forward osmosis (FO) and can simultaneously achieve wastewater treatment, electricity generation and water recovery. The selection of appropriate draw solutes (DS) and reduction of reverse solute flux (RSF) are the key challenges for OsMFC operation. This study has examined ten inorganic-based DS and investigated the effect of electricity generation on the RSF. RESULTS The OsMFC exhibited stable electricity generation with Na+-series and K+-series DS. For NH4+-series DS, the ammonia-nitrogen loss percentage, which varied from 12.5 +/- 0.4% to 47.7 +/- 2.4%, was significant due to the high pH and aeration in the cathode. Inorganic scaling/precipitation was observed with Mg2+-series and Ca2+-series DS with DS loss percentage from 13.5 +/- 2.8% to 28.0 +/- 0.3%. Electricity generation could reduce the specific RSF by 70.3 +/- 4.9% and 56.7 +/- 13.4% for the Na+ and K+ DS, respectively. CONCLUSION The Na+-series and K+-series DS was identified as the ideal DS for the OsMFC because of stable electricity generation and water flux and significant RSF reduction. NH4+-series, Mg2+-series and Ca2+-series DS were not appropriate due to significant loss. Bioelectricity generation could reduce both RSF and specific RSF. (c) 2018 Society of Chemical Industry