Electricity Generation by a Mediator-Less Microbial Fuel Cell Using Mixed Culture

Electricity Generation by a Mediator-Less Microbial Fuel Cell Using Mixed Culture

Aktan, Sevil
Bozkurt, Ayhan
Çokgör, Emine Ubay
Yazicioğlu, Burcu Irmak
Arslan, Nurullah
Gücin, Fahrettin
Ulusoy, Isılay

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bioreactor that converts chemical energy in the chemical bonds in organic compounds to electrical energy through catalytic reactions of microorganisms under anaerobic conditions. In a MFC, power can be generated from the oxidation of organic matter by bacteria at the anode ,with reduction of oxygen at the cathode. Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM), to allow protons to move across to the cathode while blocking the diffusion of oxygen into the anode. Electrons produced by the bacteria from these substrates are transferred to the anode and flow to the cathode linked by a conductive material containing a resistor, or operated under a load. MFCs have been used to generate electricity from virtually any biodegradable organic matter, including domestic and industrial wastewaters, while at the same time accomplishing wastewater treatment. Using Two Chambered MFC in our laboratory produced 0,8 mW/m2 of anode surface area using pure culture (S.putrefaciens) and acetate. Using Single Chambered Flat MFC, we have recently achieved up to 15 mW/m2 using mixed culture and acetate. A MFC-based treatment plant of the future will likely look a lot like a system built today around a fixed-film system such as a trickling filter. The MFC technology is particularly favored for sustainable long-term power applications.

Conference or Workshop Item
PeerReviewed

2009-06

511