Mandala, 2:00

Team 36

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MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS – WHY SALT WATER ELECTROLYSIS IS THE

FUTURE OF ENERGY PRODUCTION
Morgan Miller mom55@pitt.edu, Colin Rickard cjr86@pitt.edu, Michaela Verzilli mcv22@pitt.edu

Abstract—This paper will introduce how energy consumption
has been an increasing problem in the last decades. We will
discuss the methods and processes scientists have been using
to separate hydrogen and oxygen gas in electrolysis fuel cells,
specifically saltwater cells also known as microbial fuel cells.
The fuel cell is a device that produces electricity by combining
hydrogen and oxygen with only water and heat as its main
byproducts. Fuel cell technology has been refined over many
years and continues to evolve. With the increase in energy
consumption, there is a need for a better and more efficient
technology to create energy. In our analysis of water
electrolysis, we will focus on microbial fuel cells that are
present in salt water. Microbial fuel cells can generate
electricity using sunlight and photosynthesis. A microbial fuel
cell converts chemical energy into electrical energy by the
actions and processes of microorganisms. In this paper, we
will also discuss the many uses of hydrogen in our everyday
life and how harvesting it using water electrolysis could be a
major step toward living in a more progressive and
environmentally aware world.
Though water splitting (water electrolysis) is not
thermodynamically favorable at standard temperature and
pressure, our paper will discuss how this process is still more
energy efficient. Despite the challenges that microbial fuel
cell water electrolysis may bring about, our paper will focus
in on the advantages that are superior to the challenges. We
will conclude our paper by describing the applications of
microbial fuel cells.
Key Words—Energy efficiency, Fuel cells, Hydrogen energy,
Microbial fuel cells, Water electrolysis
INTRODUCING A NEW WAY OF
CREATING EFFICIENT ENERGY
Resource deprivation is an ever-growing problem in the
modern world. Due to a population boom, new and more
efficient ways of creating energy and fuel sources must be
University of Pittsburgh, Swanson School of Engineering
First-Year Conference Paper
08.03.2019
developed and incorporated into our everyday lives. Society
today is exhausting oil, natural gas, coal, and other finite
resources in order to power the lifestyles of highly developed
countries such as the United States and China. The
disappearance of these resources would negatively affect the
growing economy. Alternatively, the increasing use of fossil
fuels and nonrenewable energy sources has caused pollution
and environmental detriment to the earth. Green energy has
experienced mild growth in the past decade, but not nearly
enough to have a substantial impact on society. According to
the Encyclopedia of Sustainability Science and Technology,
as of October 2018, only one third of the primary energy
produced was converted into final energy, a product used for
power or electricity. The other two thirds were lost by
consumption of fossil fuels and carbon dioxide [1]. Our paper
will discuss how microbial fuel cells have the potential of
improving this statistic. The water electrolysis process using
salt water microbial cells improves the production of
hydrogen. The hydrogen, that comes from Earth’s renewable
salt water resources, increases the efficiency and decreases
the cost to produce hydrogen.
ENERGY PRODUCED FROM HYDROGEN
Hydrogen, an element that is ever present in our
environment, can be used to create affordable and efficient
energy. Because hydrogen is the simplest element in
existence and also the most plentiful element in the universe,
it is an ideal element to use for energy. Hydrogen is high in
energy, yet an engine that burns pure hydrogen produces
almost no pollution. For example, NASA has used hydrogen
energy since the 1970s to send the space shuttles and other
rockets into orbit [2]. This simple element is crucial for fuel
usage because of its quality and accessibility on the planet.
Despite its simplicity and abundance, hydrogen does not
occur naturally as a gas on the Earth because it is always
combined with other elements. As a result of this challenge,
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water electrolysis has become a more popular technology to
produce hydrogen gas.
Using the water electrolysis process, a water molecule is
separated into its components of oxygen and hydrogen gas,
needed to further produce hydrogen fuel. The use of bipolar
membranes, in water electrolysis fuel cells, can make the
process more efficient by creating a method for hydrogen
production [3]. Hydrogen can also be used as an energy
carrier, similar to electricity. By storing, moving, and
delivering energy to consumers, plants, and electrical
processes, hydrogen not only is a source of energy but can
transport energy.
The Future of Hydrogen Power
Though the main use of hydrogen power today is as a
fuel source for space shuttles and rockets, there is a large
potential for hydrogen fuel to be used for common electricity.
In the future, hydrogen energy can be used to power vehicles,
buses, and marine vessels. Described later in this paper, the
most recent hydrogen power technologies do not produce
pollution. This can be said for hydrogen fuel cells because
they only emit water and heat. Hydrogen fuel can reduce
carbon dioxide levels in the air by 90% if the hydrogen is
produced by wind or solar renewable energy [3]. Since
hydrogen energy has the potential of dominating power
supply, this could decrease the pollution in the atmosphere.
From earlier evidence, it is crucial to consider using
hydrogen gas as an energy producer for the future. Hydrogen
can be produced using water electrolysis and fuel cells.
Producing hydrogen from saltwater microbial fuel cells
proves to be an efficient way to produce clean energy with
low cost and a high production rate [4]. The importance of
cost and accessibility are supported by microbial fuel cells’
superior performance and processes.
WHAT IS WATER ELECTROLYSIS?
Water electrolysis is the process of using electricity to
split water into hydrogen and oxygen. The process of water
electrolysis consists of two very crucial half reactions. On one
side of the cell, there is a cathode that is positively charged
which produces cathodic hydrogen, and on the other side,
there is an anode that is negatively charged. This is where
anodic oxygen is produced. These are the foundations of the
water electrolysis process [5]. When the reactions of cathodic
hydrogen and anodic oxygen occur, an electric current that
can be used for energy is created. The process of water
electrolysis happens in different types of cells, which consist
of the anode and cathode placed in solutions. There are many
different types of cells, but the most common type of cell used
for water electrolysis with salt water is a fuel cell [6].
What is a fuel cell?
2
Fuel cells are the main composition of water electrolysis
reactions. Very similar to a battery, a fuel cell converts the
energy produced by combining hydrogen and oxygen to
produce electricity, heat, and water which can be used as
electrical energy. Unlike batteries, fuel cells never lose charge
since they produce electricity which helps repower
themselves [2]. Fuel cells are composed of a negatively
charged electrode called an anode and a positively charged
electrode called a cathode. Within a hydrogen fuel cell, a
catalyst is placed on the anode which breaks the hydrogen
atoms into its protons and electrons, which then travel to the
cathode over two different paths. The electrons flow into an
external circuit to produce electricity whereas the protons
flow to the cathode where they combine with oxygen to form
water and heat [7]. As displayed in the Figure 1, the hydrogen
is shown at the cathode and the oxygen is shown at the anode.
This split of hydrogen and oxygen is the reason for the name
water splitting or water electrolysis.
FIGURE 1 [8]
A diagram of a hydrogen fuel cell
A fuel cell uses the chemical energy of hydrogen or
another fuel to cleanly and efficiently produce electricity. In
a fuel cell with hydrogen as the source of fuel, the only
byproducts are electricity, water, and heat [9]. As a result of
the need for energy efficiency, cost optimization, and
accessibility in producing fuel for the functionality of the
world, fuel cells are an important. The main reason that fuel
cells are crucial to the future of energy production is that fuel
cells offer clean power generation and have the potential to
convert fuels directly into electrical energy with high
efficiencies. There is no output of lost energy from this
process, and therefore there is no pollution created by
hydrogen fuel cells [1].
A common alternative to fuel cells for hydrogen
production are electrolyzers. Different types of electrolyzers
include polymer electrolyte membrane water
electrolyzers and alkaline water electrolyzers [10]. The
hydrogen produced from an electrolyzer is then commonly
used in collaboration with a hydrogen fuel cell to make power
and energy. The reactions in an electrolyzer are similar to the
reactions in a fuel cell, except they are the reverse reactions.
In an electrolyzer, the hydrogen gas is produced at the cathode
whereas, in a fuel cell, the hydrogen is produced in the anode.
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The major disadvantage of electrolyzers is the requirement of
electrical energy to complete the reaction. Therefore, they are
not as energy efficient as hydrogen fuel cells and not
thermodynamically favorable. Hydrogen fuel cells prove to
be superior, and therefore, we will analyze a specific
technology of water electrolysis fuel cells.
MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS PRESENT IN
SALT WATER
A specific type of hydrogen fuel cell is the microbial fuel
cell. The use of a microbial fuel cell is strongly supported by
its efficiency and accessibility. These cells are used to
produce electricity using the plant processes of
photosynthesis. Solar energy is the only energy
resource sufficient enough in our environment to replace
fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, nonrenewable energy resources,
make up over 85% of our world’s energy consumption.
Therefore, it is vital to find processes that will store large
amounts of solar energy for later use [5]. The photosynthesis
process uses solar energy to create food for plants that can be
transformed into more energy sources for surrounding
ecosystems. This is pivotal in our analysis of water
electrolysis fuel cells because microbial fuel cells are present
in salt water and use sunlight to grow. The difference in
salinity drives a faster reaction and substantially increases
production of hydrogen [12]. Shown in Figure 2, the
fermentation of a plant in saltwater is a huge part of the water
electrolysis process.
FIGURE 2 [11]
The electrode of a microbial fuel cell reaction
The fuel cells, also grown and supported by the fermentation
of saltwater organisms, produce an electric current from this
decomposition and generate hydrogen through the cathode
and anode.
Water Electrolysis Reactions
Microbial fuel cells use biofilms produced in saltwater
that generate electricity without any additional fuel. Since the
products of photosynthesis can be utilized as electrode
reactants and the electrode products can be utilized as
photosynthetic reactants, this process is superior to other
3
forms of electricity production [4]. The necessary reactions
that occur within a water electrolysis microbial fuel cell are
favorable because they are able to benefit each other.
The two main reactions that are part of the essential
process for microbial fuel cells include the reaction of the
cathode and the reaction of the anode. Discussed earlier, water
electrolysis splits water molecules from the salt water using
the solar energy from the sun, to separate water into its
components. Respectively, the first half-cell reaction is
hydrogen’s cathodic evolution and the second half-cell
reaction is oxygen’s anodic evolution,
2 𝐻2 𝑂 (𝑙) + 2𝑒 − → 𝐻2 (𝑔) + 2 𝑂𝐻 − [5]
2 𝐻2 𝑂 (𝑙) → 𝑂2 (𝑔) + 4 𝐻 + (𝑎𝑞) + 4 𝑒 −
During the first half-cell reaction, the hydrogen evolution
reaction, water is absorbed in the cathode and
“electrochemically reduced into a hydrogen atom and
absorbed hydroxide” [5]. The hydroxide is then desorbed to
refresh the surface of the site and allow the formation of the
hydrogen ion to then produce hydrogen gas. During the
second half-cell reaction, the oxygen evolution reaction,
which occurs in the anode, the oxygen ion is reduced so that
its electrons can be used to continue producing hydrogen.
Electrochemically Active Bacteria
In order for the electrode reactions of salt water
electrolysis explained earlier to perform in the correct way,
electrochemically active bacteria (EAB) must be present in
the alkaline water source. EABs “transfer the electrons
derived from metabolic processes to the electrode” [13].
EABs help break down organic matter in salt water, or wastes
in wastewater, into carbon dioxide. This gas then is further
broken down by the bacteria into its electrons and protons that
are a part of the electrolysis cathode and anode reactions.
Factors That Affect the Electrolysis Process
There are six main factors that affect how the water
electrolysis process will perform. Due to the fact that the
microbial water electrolysis process depends on these six
factors, it is vital to understand and analyze what they are and
how they affect hydrogen production. These six operation
parameters of microbial water electrolysis include pH of the
solution, temperature, type of substrate, voltage,
conductivity, and the presence of a catalyst [13].
The pH of a solution, or the measurement of the acidity
or basicity of an aqueous solution, largely effects how
microbial fuel cells will perform. Because the water
electrolysis process is based on kinetics, the movement of
particles, and thermodynamics, the transfer of heat, pH plays
a large role. On the pH scale, which measures the
concentration of hydronium ions in a solution, a pH of 9 is the
ideal concentration of hydronium ions to produce hydrogen.
This basic pH, however, is not the ideal concentration for all
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salt water solutions. To ensure the growth of microbial fuel
cells in salt water, ideal pH is subject to change depending on
the organisms present in the water. Some bacteria present in
salt water need a more basic pH (higher than seven) to thrive
while a fungus needs a more acidic pH for its “microbial
growth activity” [13].
The performance of microbial fuel cell electrolysis is
also greatly affected by fluctuations in temperature.
Temperature plays a role in the energy efficiency of microbial
fuel cells. According to a study analyzed by Abudukeremu
Kadier, at 30 Celsius, the process was optimized [13]. At this
ideal temperature, the microbial growth of electrochemically
active bacteria (EAB) thrived which helped efficiency of the
electrode reactions. The bacteria were able to grow much
faster at 30 Celsius than at other lower temperatures less than
20 Celsius. Microbial fuel cells can operate even at lower
temperatures which creates for a more reliable process. As
stated by researchers A. Larrosa-Guerrero and K. Scott, some
of the microorganisms involved in their study of alkaline
water were less sensitive to low temperature which leads to
further study in cold areas [14].
The type of substrate, or fuel source, used in the water
electrolysis process affects its performance. Substrate is
considered to be one of the most critical factors that affects
hydrogen production in microbial fuel cells. Different types
of substrate have their own unique rates at which they
disintegrate organic materials. Consequently, these fuel
sources lead to changing productivity in the electrolysis
process. The most common substrate, acetate, is also the
substrate that caused the best electrolysis performance and
therefore, the highest hydrogen production rate. Other
substrates including glucose, cellulose, and lactic acid, all
achieved lowers results that acetate when studied by Kadier
and Kalil [13]. Energy efficiency for cellulose and glucose
were 64% whereas 82% for acetic acid. But comparably,
acetate achieves almost perfect energy efficiency.
The water electrolysis process is based off of electrode
reactions that are highly complex and require specific
conditions. In research studies, it was demonstrated that
applying lower voltage to the process results in lower
hydrogen yield. It can be concluded that the ideal voltage for
the process would be of higher value. On continuation of
Kadier’s analysis, he mentions, “if the applied voltage is
raised to 0.8-1.0 volts, the hydrogen production rate reached
a peak [13]”. Because of this, higher conductivity supports
better ion transfer that may enhance the overall performance
of the microbial fuel source.
The catalyst that is often used to accelerate the
electrolysis process greatly enhances the hydrogen production
rate. Essential to the microbial electrolysis process, these
production enhancing catalysts have helped solve the problem
of thermodynamic unfavorability of saltwater electrolysis.
The main fault that the necessary catalyst exhibits is its
usually high cost that increases the total materials cost of the
electrode process. Despite this disadvantage, the catalyst is
4
able to increase the hydrogen produce rate enough to produce
up to 1.4 m3H2/m3d [13].
ADVANTAGES OF MICROBIAL FUEL
CELLS
Energy Efficiency
Water electrolysis of saltwater is a superior energy
process because of microbial fuel cells’ energy efficiency.
Specifically, research comparing salt water versus river water
explains that the slower water flow of salt water achieved a
more efficient utilization of the energy produced by the
salinity of salt water than of the fresh river water [15]. When
energy efficient was measured, however, the data
demonstrated that the higher flowing salt water achieved the
optimal hydrogen production. By comparing how water
electrolysis of salt water is more energy efficient than river
water electrolysis, microbial fuel cells will have a direct
advantage because they are based in salt solutions.
In slower flowing water, the substrate has a greater
amount of time to reside in the electrolysis process. The
energy recovery percentage in slower salt water was reported
to be 36% by Younggy Kim in a study he facilitated on
hydrogen production in fresh water versus salt water [15].
This number, 36%, represents the energy captured based on
the total energy input by the electrolysis process of microbial
fuel cells. The energy efficiency, on the other hand, was
maximized with higher flow rates of salt water. The energy
efficiency was 65%. This percentage represents the energy
captured based on the energy entering and leaving he
microbial electrolysis fuel cell. Although no specific statistics
for the river water were given in the study, compared to the
river water, the salt water performed better according to
energy recovery and efficiency.
Cost Optimization
A major aspect of deciphering whether to explore this
new technology is how the cost may affect accessibility of the
fuel cells. To reduce the operational costs of water
electrolysis, specifically microbial fuel cell electrolysis,
certain parameters have been taken. According to Ailong Li
et. al, a proton exchange membrane (PEM) with “low internal
resistance can operate at much higher currents” [5]. When this
recently discovered PEM is employed, the compact system
design and high voltage efficiency of the electrolysis cell are
easily attainable, and therefore, the cost is much lower than
without the membrane. Another study analyzed by Reuben
Tamakloe, the PEMs typically used for water electrolysis
microbial fuel cells are over expensive. He first begins by
describing that a PEM is the key function to keep the “liquid
contents of each chamber (cathode and anode) separate while
allowing protons to pass between chambers” [16]. PEMs are
also very delicate and can be difficult to make work
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efficiently. Tamakloe proposes the advantages of PEM-less
microbial fuel cells and the cost efficiency all while
maintaining energy efficiency. In replacement of the PEM,
the microbial fuel cell contains a clay substance that achieves
the desired circuit voltage of the electrode. The clay is cheaper
than the average $2500/m2 proton exchange membrane [17].
In order to overcome the high cost of some materials
needed for water electrolysis, many inexpensive catalysts
have been explored. Many researchers found low-cost
cathode catalysts which supports the conclusion that this
energy production process is reasonable cost wise. High
reaction rates can be achieved with a low-cost catalyst made
out of nickel [1]. A catalyst made of nickel would also need a
high temperature condition for the reaction to be an optimal
speed and efficiency. This nickel-based catalyst has become
increasingly popular for microbial fuel cell electrolysis
processes because of its abundance, easy accessibility,
efficient activity, and low cost. Nickel-based metals also have
high conductivity which makes for a great catalyst in an
electrode, where electricity must be freely flowing. A catalyst
made out of nickel has an exceptional quality. When used
during a 200-hour life test experiment, the nickel-based
catalyst maintained a stable porous surface and crystallite
structure under temperatures up to 1123 K (approximately
850 º Celsius) [18].
CHALLENGES OF THIS NEW
TECHNOLOGY
Thermodynamic Unfavorability
One of the major challenges of water electrolysis with
sea water, is that the process is thermodynamically
unfavorable. When an electrolyzer, a type of fuel cell, is used
to separate the hydrogen atoms in salt water, an electric
current is passed through the anode and the cathode. This
current causes three main issues within the electrolyzer. First,
the current causes chloride ions in the water to form chlorine
gas, which is very harmful for the environment since it is
considered a greenhouse gas. Secondly, sea water contains
magnesium and calcium ions, that when reacted with
electricity cause the formation of insoluble precipitates.
Those precipitates cause a blockage with the catalysts on the
two electrodes. Lastly, the process of water electrolysis can
cause the anode and cathode to corrode due to a drastic change
in the pH levels [19]. Thankfully, scientists from the Nanyang
Technological University have found a catalyst that can help
fix the problem of the production of poisonous chlorine gas,
insoluble ions, and pH changes.
Catalyst that Fixes the Problem
Since the reaction for water electrolysis with salt water
is such a thermodynamically unfavorable reaction, scientists
have had to research ways in which they can overcome the
5
challenges in order to continue with salt water electrolysis.
The catalyst is needed to quicken the reaction and to decrease
the kinetic hesitation in energy production occurring in the
movement of the water’s proton to hydrogen gas [13]. In order
to do that, scientists from Nanyang Technological University
have developed a catalyst that can fix the problems with salt
water electrolysis. They have developed a nickel
molybdenum sulfide catalyst that has helped lower the
amount of current needed to release hydrogen gas during
water electrolysis. This catalyst relies on a different type of
anode to oxide the seawater into oxygen gas, protons, and
electrons. This anode is made from growing cobalt carbonate
nanoneedles on a carbon fiber and then covering those
nanoneedles in a layer of sodium ferrocyanide in order to form
the 20 nm (nanometer) thick anode. When the scientists tested
this new anode and catalyst, they obtained local seawater and
ran the electrolysis for around 100 hours. They found that no
chlorine gas had been produced due to lower currents, and the
anode and cathode had barely corroded meaning the pH
change was not as significant as before the addition of the
catalyst and new anode [19]. This catalyst is still being tested
in order to make sure it as efficient as possible so that it can
be produced more for more research facilities to further
research in water electrolysis using salt water.
APPLICATIONS OF MICROBIAL FUEL
CELLS
Waste Water Treatment
Wastewater treatments account for 3.5% of all the
United States’ energy use [20]. This amount of energy could
power 9.6 million households for one year. This immense
measure of energy is important to analyze to determine what
ways it could be better used. Microbial fuel cells produce
hydrogen energy from a variety of wastewater such as
industrial, domestic, and synthetic wastewaters. The
microbial fuel cells provide a complimentary source of
biofuels and energy for further treatment in different
wastewaters. This application is vital in the recent
environment because the earth has been suffering the effects
of wastewater’s absorption of energy. According to a study
investigated by the writers of “Hydrogen Production Through
Electrolysis,” microbial electrolysis cells have been proven to
be effective in treating the water, producing energy to be used
in other ways, and improving the presence of environmentally
unsafe chemicals.
In the study analyzed by Kadier and Kalil, a food
processing wastewater contained high concentrations of
complex carbohydrates and acetate. Another wastewater
analyzed was an industrial wastewater containing a high
concentration of methanol. By comparing these two different
wastewaters, it was discovered that with the use of a platinum
catalyst, more biogas was recovered in both wastewaters by
use of microbial fuel cells. Biogas, consisting mainly of
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methane, is harmful for the environment because of its
potential to cause climate change in the atmosphere [21].
Despite the microbial fuel cells’ disability to improve those
two wastewaters, another set of results revealed that the
microbial electrolysis process is an efficient method for
hydrogen recovery from swine wastewater treatment. The
process needs to be further studied for decreasing methane
production and enhancing the efficiency of converting the
organic matter into a current. This current can be further used
for the cathode-anode reaction for water electrolysis [13].
Microbial fuel cells offer direct electricity generation,
energy savings, and anaerobic treatment. Anaerobic treatment
is “one of the major biological waste treatment processes in
use” [21].
Chemical and Biofuel Synthesis
The hydrogen produced from microbial fuel cells can
also be used to create important chemical and biofuels. The
production of eco-friendly hydrogen results in the production
of other biofuels including methane, hydrogen peroxide, and
ethanol. Methane is the most well-known fuel and is being
widely consumed worldwide. However, methane is a biogas
and there is evidence that the increasing use of methane
directly correlates with the decreasing quality of air and
atmospheric protection from the sun. If microbial water
electrolysis can be used to better this process, we will not have
to worry about hydrogen energy depleting or overusing
methane as has been done in the past. This process is superior
to others that create methane because it occurs at “ambient
temperature,” a temperature where heating is not required
[13]. Because no external energy is needed, the process saves
input energy which helps the surrounding environment.
Acetate, which can be produced from carbon dioxide
within the microbial electrolysis process, can be used further
for synthetic fibers and coating materials. As stated by Kadier
and Kalil, the production of acetate leads to “a highly
attractive and innovative route that might convert solar energy
to valuable organic products more effectively than
conventional approaches” [13]. Ethanol, which reduced from
the acetate chemical, is feasible when in produced using
microbial water electrolysis because of acetate’s prevalence
in the process. Ethanol, which is used as fuel in many
automotive vehicles, has a low production rate from acetate
but there is still possibility for increased growth through the
electrolysis process. Kadier and Kalil state that if researchers
further reduce the electrode voltage, inner resistance of the
electrode, and overall energy loss of the process, they have
the potential to “boost the ethanol production” and make
ethanol production in microbial electrolysis cells more
commercially applicable [13].
Hydrogen peroxide is a crucial chemical in industry
today. Also produced by microbial fuel cells, hydrogen
peroxide is feasible by the oxidation of organic substrate and
the reduction of oxygen in the cathode of the water
electrolysis electrode. As evidenced by a recent study, there
was an 83% efficiency rate when producing hydrogen
6
peroxide due to the production rate of 1.17 mmol/L/h in the
cathode [13]. This high, favorable rate was only achieved
when studied in a laboratory with ideal conditions. The
technology’s ability to produce hydrogen peroxide that is
application in real world implications has found its
challenges.
Future Applications and Sustainability
As the knowledge of the new technology grows, more
applications are being created for the future of microbial fuel
cells. Some of the first commercial applications of microbial
fuel cells are still in course, so in future years, much more
information on the technology will be available. With
scientists and engineers’ predictions for the future of
microbial fuel cells, it is inferred that microbial electrolysis
cells can be used for further chemical synthesis, creating
many more useful chemical and innovative fuels. Once more
research is performed and analyzed about the status of certain
fuels, including methane, microbial fuel cells will hopefully
be able to eliminate and/or produce energy that can be used to
power the world at large [13].
Microbial fuel cells have the potential to reach the
application of storing electrical energy generated from
renewable energy sources [13]. These renewable energy
sources include wind and solar power plants that can be more
effective if microbial fuel cells were able to store this energy
for future use. With depletion of energy rapidly in today’s age
due to increased use of electricity, industrial power plants’
processes, and households’
Kadier and Kalil, in their report on hydrogen production
of microbial fuel cells, they speak of a hopeful future
application of pollutant removal and control. If microbial fuel
cells do not secrete toxic chemicals or create pollution in any
direct way, as analyzed earlier, they would be much more
advantageous if they were able to remove pollution from
water sources and other fuel production processes so that the
energy industries of the world could further improve their
sustainability [13].
WATER ELECTROLYSIS IS THE FUTURE
Energy production is of the utmost importance in the
world today. Obsolete systems of obtaining resource draining
power is the only way that we as a species have survived in
the modern world thus far. Green energy, renewable
resources, has made a large impact on many progressive
nations; however, the vast majority of the population has not
yet adopted these systems, many of which are flawed and still
cannot compete with the fossil fuel industry. The better part
of the world population has access to electricity, and the better
part of the population is using energy resources that are
inefficient, costly, and lack concern for the ecological well-
being of our planet. Salt water electrolysis utilizes the most
abundant resources on our planet as well as shows promise
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for optimal cost efficiency, environmental safety, and energy
efficiency. For the reasons that we have outlined, salt water
electrolysis has the potential to compete and surpass other
energy production industries. Although we recognize that this
process and the surrounding logistics of beginning wide
spread use of saltwater electrolysis will take time to establish,
salt water electrolysis will be the future of large-scale energy
production and make obsolete the inefficient systems that we
utilize today.
SOURCES
[1] J. Kunze-Liebhauser, O. Paschos, S. Sundar Pethaiah, and
U. Stimming. “Fuel Cell Comparison to Alternate
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02.18.2019.
https://link.springer.com/referenceworkentry/10.1007/978-1-
4939-7789-5_157.
[2] “Hydrogen Energy”. Renewable Energy World. Accessed
02.17.2019.
https://www.renewableenergyworld.com/hydrogen/tech.html
[3] C. Chen, S. Li, and C. Wang. “Water Electrolysis for H2
Production Using a Novel Bipolar Membrane in Low Salt
Concentration”. Journal of Membrane Science. Volume 330,
Issue 1-2. Pages 334-340. 03.20.2009. Accessed
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
We would like to acknowledge our co-chair, Sarah
Oldenburg, for giving us insight on our paper topic, paper
organization, and giving us words of encouragement as we
continue writing our conference paper. We would also like
to acknowledge and thank our writing
instructor, Emelyn Smith-Ferris, for giving us feedback to
better write, edit, and revise our paper's readability, structure,
and content. We would also like to express our gratitude for
supportive family and friends. Without their help, we would
not be where we are today.