A novel microbial fuel cell stack for continuous production of clean energy
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Electricity generation from the readily biodegradable organic substrate (glucose) accompanied by decolorization of azo dye was investigated using a two-chamber microbial fuel cell (MFC). Batch experiments were conducted to study the effect of dye and substrate concentration on MFC performance. Electricity generation was not significantly affected by the azo dye at 300 mg/L, while higher concentrations inhibited electricity generation. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal and decolorization of dye containing wastewater used in the MFC were studied at optimum operation conditions in anode and cathode, 57% COD removal and 70% dye removal were achieved. This study also demonstrated the effect of different catholyte solutions, such as KMnO 4 and K 2 Cr 2 O 7 on electricity generation. As a result, KMnO 4 solution showed the maximum electricity generation due to its higher standard reduction potential.
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Microbial fuel cells (MFC) offer the direct generation of electricity from different sources of waste water, simultaneously accomplishing waste water treatment. MFC converts organic matter to electricity with the help of microorganisms as biocatalysts. While electricity generation using bacteria has been known to be possible for over a decade, only recent studies have shown that mediators are not required. This development can drive a completely new wastewater treatment technology based on microbial fuel cell. The objective of this study is to enhance the power production efficiency of a single chambered mediatorless microbial fuel cell from waste water using modified anodes. It was observed that this single chambered mediatorless microbial fuel cell was capable of giving higher removal of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) and Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD). In addition, comparison of electricity generation was carried out with plain carbon rods and iron coated carbon rods as anodes. The maximum electricity generation (71μA) and maximum voltage production (351μA) was obtained from MFC with heated iron coated carbon as anode.
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Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) convert chemical energy into electrical energy using microorganisms. Various factors influence electricity generation by MFC. Surface areas of cathode and anode have been reported as significant factors affecting the performance of MFC. Hence, in the present study, the above mentioned factors were investigated for understanding their influence on generation of electricity. It was observed that the surface area of cathode did enhance the energy generation but only up to a certain limit (18.42 cm 2 ). However, surface area of anode was found to be more important and critical in increase the capacity and sustainability of the MFC system. Hence, it can be concluded that in an MFC system, bacteria are solely responsible for generation of electrons and thus, electricity. Providing large surface area for bacterial growth at anode would thus be a key parameter to enhance the electricity generation.
Chemical energy
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There is increasing interest in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) because the manufacturing costs to produce them can be reduced more readily than other fuel cells through the use of a microbe as a catalyst and a familiar organism as fuel. Although MFCs are expected to be used in a range of applications, from large-scale sewage plants to portable power sources, the performance of these cells is worse than that of other fuel cells. Therefore, the aim of this study is to resolve some of the mechanical challenges associated with MFCs. During the fabrication of a prototype MFC, we determined that the poor performance of MFCs is partly due to substantial diffusion polarization across the anode, and we improved cell performance by stirring the anode tank. Moreover, we determined that the concentration of the mediator also influences cell performance. The findings of this study show that it is possible to improve the performance of MFCs using a mechanical approach.
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Single chamber
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Degradation
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