Microbial Fuel Cell

Contents

• General Introduction
• History
• Fuel Cells
• Microbial Fuel Cells
• Design
• Types
• Opportunities
• Challenges
• Scaling up
• Applications
 Introduction
• The world is facing energy crisis for non-
renewable resources.
• So people are searching for high efficient energy
transformations and way to utilize the alternate
energy sources.
• Fuel cells are an important part in the research. The
main aspects of fuel cell research is to reduce the
cost and simplifying implementation conditions.
• In recent years, people are moving towards
microbiology and biotechnology to find the
solution.
• MFCs; a form of FC; can be the next generation of
fuel cell and thus play an important role in energy
conservation and alternate fuel utilization.
• MFC’s can be used for different purposes such as
electricity generation, Biohydrogen production,
biosensors and waste water treatment.
 History

• M.C. Potter was the first to perform work on electrical current

produced by bacteria in 1911.

• In 1931, Barnet Cohen drew more attention to the area when

he created a number of microbial half fuel cells that, when
connected in series, were capable of producing over 35 volts,
though only with a current of 2 milliamps.

• In 1911 B.H. Kim developed mediator less MFC was a

milestone in MFC, Enhanced the commercial viability
eliminating costly mediator chemicals.
 WHAT ARE FUEL CELLS?

Device that converts chemical energy from fuel into

electricity through chemical reaction with oxygen or
another oxidizing agent.
 WHAT ARE MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS?

• A microbial fuel cell (MFC),

or biological fuel cell, is a bio-
electrochemical system that drives
an electric current by using bacteria and
mimicking bacterial interactions found
in nature.
• Bacteria convert substrate into electrons.
• The electrons run through the circuit and
to power the load.
• The byproducts include carbon dioxide,
water, and energy.
 Working of MFC

A typical MFC contains two electrodes (anode and cathode).

Exoelectrogens (electrogens) on the anode decompose
organic matter in wastewater producing electrons and
protons.
 Design of MFC

Basic Components
• Electrodes
• Wirings
• Glass Cell
• Salt Bridge or Proton exchange membrane (PEM)
Fuel cells can be classified in various types on the basis of
number of compartments or chambers:
• Double Chambered Fuel Cells
• Single Chambered Fuel Cells
• Stacked Microbial Fuel Cells
Double Chambered Fuel Cells Single Chambered Fuel Cells
Stacked Microbial Fuel Cells
 Water Quality Improvement by MFC

• Removal of Organic Matter:

Most organic matter can be removed by MFC when the
organic matter is easily biodegradable.
• Nitrate and Ammonia:
Ammonia is removed by oxidation into nitrite by ammonia-
oxidizing bacteria. Nitrates are denitrified into nitrogen gas
by denitrifiers.
• Phosphorus:
The presence of ammonium and magnesium is required for
phosphorus precipitation as struvite (magnesium ammonium
phosphate)
 Removal of Heavy Metals

• Heavy metals such as copper, chromium, mercury and

vanadium were precipitated in two-chamber MFCs by
metal reduction.
• Biosorption and sulfide precipitation were the main
mechanisms of heavy metal removal in single-chamber
MFC.
Effects of Conditions and Construction on MFC

Electrode Materials:
• Diffusivity of oxygen
• Power loss of fuel cell
• Longevity and cost
Proton Exchange Membranes:
• Costly and need proper installation
Dissolved oxygen (DO) content
Proper Feed Rate
 Performance of MFCs in Waste Water Treatment

• For Municipal or Domestic Wastewater

Type of MFC Performance / Result

Two Chamber Removal Efficiency of COD = 30%

Single Chamber Removal Efficiency of COD = 69%

Stacked MFC Removal Efficiency of COD = 79%

 Continued…

• For Agricultural Wastewater

Animal manure is normally high-strength wastewater, and volatile
organic acids in the wastewater are commonly associated with odor.

Type of MFC Performance / Result

The removal efficiency of BOD respectively reached 84.0%,
Two Chamber 70.0%, and 91.0% levels of the fertilizer elements (including
nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium).
tCOD, sCOD, and NH+4 were reduced by 71.0%, 88.0%, and
44.0%, respectively.
Single After a 4-day treatment, up to 75.0% of the COD removals were
Chamber obtained in urine.

Ten chemicals related to odors were reduced by 79.76% and

volatile organic acids (VAs) by 99%
 Continued…

• For Industrial Wastewater

Food processing wastewater – beet-sugar plant; Starch processing WW;
Brewery Processing WW, Dairy
industry
Food Processing WW Performance / Result

Beet Sugar COD, sulfate and color removal efficiencies were 53.2%,
52.7% and 41.1%, respectively
Starch Processing COD and ammonia-nitrogen were reduced by 98.0%
and 90.6%, respectively
Beer Brewery 87% COD removal
Processing
Dairy Industry 90.2% COD removal was achieved in 10 days of operation
 Types of Microbial Fuel Cell

There are two types of microbial fuel cells

• Mediated
• Mediator free
• Soil-Based
• Nanoporous Membrane
Mediator
A chemical that transfers electrons from the bacteria in the cell to
the anode. Some of these chemicals include thionine, methyl
viologen, methyl blue, humic acid, and neutral red. These
chemicals are expensive and toxic.
 Types (continued…)

1. Mediated Microbial Fuel Cell

Most microbial cells are electrochemically inactive. Electron transfer
from microbial cells to the electrode is facilitated by mediators such
as thionine, methyl viologen, methyl blue, humic acid and neutral red.

2. Mediator-free Microbial Fuel Cell

• Mediator-free microbial fuel cells use electrochemically active
bacteria to transfer electrons to the electrode.
• Electrochemically active redox proteins such as cytochromes on
their outer membrane that can transfer electrons directly to the
anode.
• Some electrochemically active bacteria are Shewanella
putrefaciens and Aeromomas hydrophila. Some bacteria have pili
on the external membrane, which allows for electron production
through the pili.
Types of Microbial Fuel Cell
 Types (continued…)

3. Soil-based
Soil-based microbial fuel cells adhere
to the basic MFC principles, whereby
soil acts as the nutrient-rich anodic
media, the inoculum and the proton
exchange membrane (PEM).
The anode is placed at a particular
depth within the soil, while the cathode
rests on top the soil and is exposed to
air.
 Types (continued…)

4. Phototrophic biofilm
• Phototrophic biofilm MFCs use a phototrophic biofilm anode
containing photosynthetic microorganism such
as chlorophytacandyanophyta.
• They carry out photosynthesis and thus produce organic metabolites
and donate electrons.
5. Nano-porous membrane
• The United States Naval Research Laboratory developed nano-
porous membrane microbial fuel cells that use a non-PEM to
generate passive diffusion within the cell.
• Unlike other MFCs, which require relatively costly proton exchange
membranes to maintain separation between protons and electrons.
• The NRL MFC uses inexpensive nanoporous membranes made from
polycarbonate or other materials to confine the microbes.
 Advantages
 Low energy consumption and direct electricity
generation
 ASP requires 0.3 kW or 0.6 kWh/kg-COD.
 While MFC requires 0.024 kW or 0.076 kWh/kg-COD.
 Low adverse effect on environment
 MFCs are capable of efficiently removal of nutrients,
recalcitrant cellulose, leachates, metals, nitrate and sulfur
compounds
 Low energy consumption i.e. low fossil-related CO2
production
 Low sludge production of about 0.1 g-VSS/g-COD as
compared to 0.4 – 0.8 g-VSS/g-COD in ASP
 Advantages (Cont…)

 Good Operational stability and low operational

cost
 MFCs can operate over several different temperature
ranges (15° C - 35° C)
 Theoretically, MFC can gain a revenue of 0.0005 USD/kg-
COD based on net energy recovery rate of 0.004
kWh/kg-COD and an average electricity price of 0.12
USD/kWh as compared to ASP which requires 0.6
kWh/kg-COD.
 Challenges

 Relative low power production level of MFCs on

larger scale
 At 30 mL scale power density of 2.87 kW/m3 has been
achieved
 When converted to liter-scale it dropped to 35 W/m3
In order to be competitive with ASP, it should produce
at least 400 W/m3.
 Challenges (Cont…)

 Lab scale versus real-world conditions

 Lab study is being done in controlled conditions however
in reality the wastewaters are complex as they may
contain toxic substances which will hinder electrochemical
activity of anodic micro-organisms.
 Wastewaters are poorly buffered which will lead to an
accumulation of H+ in anode and OH- in cathode region.
 Characteristics of wastewater may change due to sudden
rainfall or influx of unexpected chemicals.
 Scaling up of MFC

 Increasing Power Output

 Enlarging Reactor Size
 MFC stakes
 Reducing Capital Cost
 Use of highly efficient, scalable and less expensive anode,
cathode and separator material
 Anode: Graphite filter brush, tungsten and stainless steal,
Activated Carbon
 Cathode: Stainless steel mesh, nickel foam, PTFE, PDMS
 Catalyst: CoTMPP, MnPc instead of Pt can be used
 Separator: Non-woven cloth with high mechanical strength
and long-term stability
 Applications

Environmental sensors
• Data on the natural environment can be helpful in
understanding and modeling ecosystem responses, but sensors
distributed in the natural environment require power for
operation.
• MFCs can possibly be used to power such devices, particularly
in river and deep-water environments where it is difficult to
routinely access the system to replace batteries.
• Sediment fuel cells are being developed to monitor
environmental systems such as creeks, rivers, and the ocean.
Power for these devices can be provided by organic matter in
the sediments.
 Applications (Cont…)

Desalination
 Applications (Cont…)

• MFC and Methane Production

Cambrian Innovation's flagship product, EcoVolt uses a
MFC in tandem with a secondary set of electrodes to
convert carbon rich waste water streams into near
pipeline quality methane gas.
 Applications (Cont…)

Bioremediation
• The MFC is not used to produce electricity; instead,
power can be put into the system to drive desired
reactions to remove or degrade chemicals, such as
converting soluble U(VI) to insoluble U(IV).
• Nitrate can also be converted to nitrite when electrodes
are used as electron donors . Electrolytic cultivation has
been used to extend the growth rates of suspensions of
iron-oxidizing bacteria in the laboratory
 References

• Li Hea, Peng Dub, Yizhong Chenb, Hongwei Lua,b, Xi

Chenga, Bei Changa, Zheng Wanga. (2016). Advances in
microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment.
ELSEVIER, 16.
• Mostafa Rahimnejad, Arash Adhami, Soheil Darvari,
Alireza Zirepour, Sang-Eun Oh. (2015). Microbial fuel
cell as new technology for bioelectricity generation: A
review. ELSEVIER, 12.
• Wei-feng LIU, Shao-an CHENG. (2014). Microbial fuel
cells for energy production from wastewaters: the way
toward practical application. Journal of Zhejiang
University-SCIENCE, 21.