Assignment No .

Topic Name: Microbial Fuel Cell

Introduction:
Device that converts chemical energy from fuel into electricity through chemical reaction with

oxygen or another oxidizing agent.

What are Microbial fuel cells?

Chemical energy to electrical energy Catalytic reaction of microorganisms Bio-electrochemical

system Mimics bacterial interaction primary flow diagram.

Working Principal of MFC:

 Based on redox reactions

 Harness the natural metabolism of microbes to produce electricity

 Bacteria converts substrate into electrons

 Electrons run through the circuit to generate power Principle

Components Of MFC:

1. Anode

2. Cathode

3. Exchange membrane

4. Substrate

5. Electrical circuit

6. Microbes
Working Of MFC:

 Anode and cathode separated by cathode specific membrane.

 Microbes at anode oxidize organic fuel generates electrons and protons.

 Protons move to the cathode compartment through the membrane.

 Electrons transferred to the cathode compartment through external circuit to generate

current.

 Electrons and protons are consumed in cathode chamber, combining with O2 to form

water.

 Anodic reaction: CH3COO- + H2O → 2CO2 + 2H+ +8e- acetate

 Cathodic reaction: O2 + 4e- + 4 H+ → 2 H2O

 Using Gibbs free energy: ∆G r = Gr 0 + RT ( lnπ)

 Cell electromotive force: W = EemfQ = ∆Gr , Q = nF Eemf = ∆ Gr∕ nF

 Overall reaction in terms of the potential as:Eemf = E0 emf –RT∕nF ln(π) Positive for a

favorable reaction directly produces a value of emf for the reaction.

Application of MFC:

 Waste water treatment

 Power generation

 Secondary fuel production

 Bio-Sensors

 Desalination

 Educational tool

 Generation of energy out of bio-waste / organic matter Direct conversion of substrate

energy to electricity

 Omission of gas treatment

 Aeration
  Bioremediation of toxic compounds

Limitations:

 Low power density

 High initial cost

 Activation losses

 Ohmic losses

 Bacterial metabolic losses