Microbial Fuel Cells

Paul Bentz
Kevin Cao

Concept
Bacteria convert substrate into electrons.
The electrons run through the circuit and to

power the load.

The byproducts include carbon dioxide, water,
and energy.

Components
Anode
Cathode
Exchange membrane
Electrical circuit

Anode
The bacteria live in the anode

and convert substrate to

carbon dioxide, water, and
energy.
Various things like glucose
and acetate can be used.
The bacteria are kept in an
oxygen-less environment to
promote the flow of electrons
through the anode.

Electrical Circuit
After leaving the anode, the electrons travel

through the circuit.

These electrons power the load.
The voltage multiplied by the current shows
the power.

Exchange Membrane
The protons that the bacteria

separated from the electrons flows

through the exchange membrane.
They recombine on the other side.
Can be a proton or cation exchange
membrane.

Cathode
The electrons and protons

recombine at the cathode.

Oxygen is reduced to water.
A platinum catalyst is used so
the oxygen is sufficiently
reduced.

Video

Reactions
BEAMR
Hydrogen evolution reaction

BEAMR
Utilizes electrohydrogenesis, which uses an

anaerobic environment to produce pure

hydrogen.
It uses about one ninth of the energy required
by normal electrolysis.
It has many different names:
Bioelectrochemically assisted microbial reactor
Biocatalyzed electrolysis cells
Microbial electrolysis cells

Hydrogen Evolution
Reaction
The bacteria in the anode separate the

protons and electrons.

This reaction occurs at the cathode, where
they recombine to form hydrogen gas.

History
M.C. Potter first performed work on the

concept in 1911 with E. coli at the University

of Durham
In 1976 the current design was came into
existence by the work of Suzuki

Operating Conditions
Function well in mild conditions
Operate at 70-100F

Uses
Beer breweries produce biodegradable

wastewater, which MFCs clean.

Desalinating water
Creating fertilizer

Environmental Impact
If the variety of substrates is increased, waste

can be used to create more energy.

Instead of big factory manufacturing, fertilizer
for farmers can be created with MFCs and
common materials.
MFCs can be used to desalinate seawater
without burning fossil fuels, although not very
efficiently yet.

Efficiency
The efficiency varies based on the substrate

used, but it can reach very high efficiencies.

91% efficiency has been reached.

Cost
Power density = 150 mW/m 2
Volume (MFC): 28 x 10^-6 m3
A/V-ratio: 25 m2/m3
Anode surface area (single chamber) = 7 x 10^ -4 m2
Power = 0.165 mW
Cost of single-chamber fuel cell: (lab-scale)
Toray paper (10x10 cm): $ 11
XC-72 (10x10 cm): $65
Others (perspex, glue, wire): $ 25
Total = $ 100
Cost per Watt = $ 600/mW

Future
More types of substrate
Ammonia-treated anodes

Substrate
Currently there is a limit to what can be used

as a substrate for the bacteria.

Scientists hope to increase these fuel types to
include things like sewage and manure.

Ammonia-Treated Anodes
Anodes of MFCs are naturally

negative in charge.
The anodes can be changed to
a positive charge by being
treated with ammonia.
This will make the anode more
receptive to the electron
transfer from the bacteria.
The energy trade-off to produce
this might not be worth the
increase in production.

Bibliography
http://www.microbialfuelcell.org/
http://www.engr.psu.edu
http://microbialfuelcell.wordpress.com/
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/01/0801031

01137.htm
http://peswiki.com/index.php/Directory:Penn_State_Micr
obial_Fuel_Cells_Produce_Hydrogen_from_Waste_Water
www.popsci.com/scitech/article/2009-08/microbial-fuelcell-cleans-wastewater-desalinates-seawater-andgenerates-power
http://www.fuelcells.org/info/summer2007.pdf