Development, characterization and application of a low-cost single chamber microbial fuel cell based on hydraulic couplers

Abstract The development of a low-cost and single chamber solid-state cathode microbial fuel cell is the main objective of this work. The architecture was built using hydraulic connections, an agar-KCl salt bridge, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae as the anodic bioelectrocatalyst. A Prussian blue film electrodeposited on carbon mesh support was employed as a cost-effective, solid-state cathode. Scanning electron microscopy images and energy dispersive spectra confirm the deposition of the Prussian blue on the cathode material. Cyclic voltammetry measurements of the modified electrode indicate a diffusion-limited process due to the intercalation of potassium ions in the Prussian blue structure. Oxi-reduction reactions leading by hydrogen peroxide allow the reactivation and renewal of the electrode after the operation of the microbial fuel cell. Polarization curves exhibit maximum power densities of 136 mW m−2 using lyophilized yeast or 67 mW m−2 using a brewery effluent, which demonstrates the feasibility for bioelectricity generation from this kind of wastewater. The single chamber microbial fuel cell under US$ 1 and constructed with hydraulic couplers can be an alternative for fuel cells of similar architecture.