Microbial Fuel Cells

Using microorganisms to
generate energy

What it is!
Converts chemical energy to
electrical energy by the catalytic
reaction of microorganisms
Exact same principle as a voltaic cell,
only using the respiration of bacteria
to generate electricity

Need of MFC(Microbial Fuel Cell):

Two very great issues
are daunting
scientists today-the
fuel crisis and bio
waste disposal
The answer to both
these problems may
be provided by our
planet's smallest
creatures : bacteria.
'Microbial Fuel Cell'
(MFC) can help
convert bio-waste
into electricity

Microbial Fuel Cell:

Microbial Fuel cell isbio-electrochemicalfuel cell where the
anode reaction is controlled by microorganisms.'Anode
respiratory bacteria'have the ability to convert bio-waste to
electrons.

masticatedscience.wordpress.com

Mediated
Methylene Blue, thionine, or humic
acid
Mediator acts as electrolyte
Facilitates e- transfer from microbial cells
to the electrode
Mediator is necessary because most
microbes are electrochemically inactive

Its just science

mediator crosses the outer
membrane
Accepts e- that would normally be
taken up by O2
e- laden mediator exits cell and
transports e- to anode
after e- deposition, mediator returns
to original oxidized state

C12H22O11 + 13H2O ---> 12CO2 +

48H+ + 48e The biofilm is
attached to the
anode
Anaerobic
conditions force
bacteria to respire
anaerobically
(duh)

Microbial
Fuel Cells

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Source: http://parts.mit.edu/igem07/images/2/2d/Fuelcell.JPG

Microbial
Fuel Cells

anode
cathode

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Source: http://parts.mit.edu/igem07/images/2/2d/Fuelcell.JPG

An anode and a cathode are connected by an external electrical

circuit,

and separated internally by an ion

exchange membrane.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Microbes growing in the anodic chamber metabolize a carbon substrate

(glucose in this case) to produce energy and hydrogen.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

C6H12O6 + 2H2O 2CH3COOH + 2CO2 + 4H2

or
C6H12O6 CH3CH2CH2COOH + 2CO2 + 2H2

Hydrogen generated is reduced into

hydrogen ions (proton) and
electrons.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Electrons are transferred to the anodic electrode, and then to the external
electrical circuit.

The protons move to

the cathodic
compartment via the
ion exchange channel
and complete the
circuit.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

The electrons and protons liberated in the reaction recombine in the cathode.

If oxygen is to be used as an
oxidizing agent, water will be
formed.

An electrical current is formed

from the potential difference of
the anode and cathode, and
power is generated.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

The anode and cathode electrodes are composed of graphite, carbon paper or
carbon cloth.

The anodic chamber is

filled with the carbon
substrate for the microbes
to metabolize to grow and
produce energy.
The pH and buffering
properties of the anodic
chamber can be varied to
maximize microbial growth,
energy production, and
electric potential.
R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

The anode and cathode electrodes are composed of graphite, carbon paper or
carbon cloth.

The cathodic chamber may be filled with

air in which case oxygen is the oxidant.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Laboratory substrates are acetate, glucose, or lactate.

Real world substrates include wastewater and landfills.

Substrate concentration, type, and feed

rate can greatly affect the efficiency of
a cell.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Microbes should be anaerobic (fermentative type) because anodic chamber must

be free of oxygen.

Microbes tested are:

E. coli
Proteus vulgaris
Streptococcus lactis
Staphylococcus aureus
Psuedomonas methanica
Lactobacillus plantarium
(Many of these species
are known human
pathogens, and pose a
potential safety hazard.)
R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Microbes should be anaerobic (fermentative type) because anodic chamber must

be free of oxygen.

Some bacteria, like

Clostridium cellulolyticum,
are able to use cellulose
as a substrate to produce
an electrical output
between 14.3-59.2
mW/m2, depending on the
type of cellulose.
R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM)

The PEM acts as the barrier between the anodic and

cathodic chambers.
It is commonly made from polymers like Nafion and Ultrex.
Ideally, no oxygen should be able to circulate between the
oxidizing environment of the cathode and the reducing
environment of the anode.
The detrimental effects of oxygen in the anode can be
lessened by adding oxygen-scavenging species like
cysteine.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Real-life MFC

Fuel cells like this are now used by a leading UK brewery to

test the activity of the yeast used for their ales.

R. Shanthini
26 Feb 2010

Scope of improvement:
The great advantage of the microbial fuel cell is the
direct conversion of organic waste into electricity.
In the future, MFCs may be linked to municipal waste
streams or sources of agricultural and animal waste,
providing a sustainable system for waste treatment
and energy production.
MFCs are far from making a industrial debut soon.
Better research can definitely speedup this process.