MICROBIAL FUEL CELL Presented by :-

Ankush Dhadwal
What are MFCs?

o MFCs are bioelectrical devices that harness the natural

metabolisms of microbes to produce electrical power directly
from organic material
MFC Basics

Oxygen Oxygen
Poor Rich
Key Players
Mr. Clean The Iron-Breather
(aka Shewanella) (aka Geobacter)
Key Players
Mr. Clean The Iron-Breather
(aka Shewanella) (aka Geobacter)

Electron Transfer Mechanisms:

o Direct Transfer

o Electron Shuttling

o Nanowires
Key Players
Mr. Clean The Iron-Breather
(aka Shewanella) (aka Geobacter)

Electron Transfer Mechanisms:

o Direct Transfer

o Electron Shuttling

o Nanowires
Respiration

OC
H2S

cell

CO2
SO4--
Redox Gradients
Max potential ~1.2 V (= potential
difference between NADH and
O2)
If terminal e- acceptor has lower
potential than O2:
Bacteria gain less ATP per mole
organic carbon oxidized
Remaining energy is available to be
used in MFC
Anaerobic Microbial Food Chain

Macromolecules Monomers
Fermenting Bacteria Fermenting

H 2 + CO 2 Acetate Acids, A lcohols H 2 + CO 2 Ac

Fermenters Acetogens
Acetogens Acetogens

Acetate H 2 + CO 2 Acetate Acetate

Methanogens Methanogens

CH4 + CO 2

Southern We tlands Nort

Warming
Applications
Soil-based MFCs
The MudWatt

+Food
The MudWatt
MudWatt Steps

1) Make Fuel
2) MudWatt Construction
3) Monitor
4) Submit Data
MudWatt Steps

1) Make Fuel

Put ~3 cups of soil in bowl

(Optional) Add mystery ingredient
Hint: if your mystery ingredient is liquid, add just enough to make the soil cookie
dough consistency

Add water until cookie dough consistency

Record your ingredients (and volume fraction of secret ingredient if
one was used)
MudWatt Steps

2) Construct MudWatt

Attach electrodes to dome lid (through donut disk)

Attach ruler sticker to the side of vessel
Put mud in vessel up to 1cm. Pat smooth
Place in Anode (make sure there are no air bubbles)
Put in more soil up to 4 cm
Place in Cathode
Let rest for 2min
Decant liquid if needed (Cathode cannot be submerged)