Some Basic Concepts

Related to Fuel Cells

with a Focus
on Microbial and Enzymatic
Fuel Cells
Nevin Longenecker
John Adams High School
 The PURPOSES of this
investigation were to
 examine and evaluate variables associated with
increasing the efficiency of a microbial fuel cell .

 propose and construct a prototype enzymatic fuel

cell based on the previous findings.

 describe in an educational science journal an

inexpensive fuel cell which could be easily
constructed and used in a classroom. The
operation of such a cell would have diverse
applications in many sciences and would
integrate mathematical principles from calculus,
statistics, algebra and geometry.
 Advantages of Fuel Cells
vs.
Internal Combustion Engines
 Unlimited supply of fuel
 No reliance on foreign oil

 Little or no pollutants

 Much higher energy conversion %

 No moving parts

 No noise
  Often Platinum Catalyst

V V
 Cathode Chamber
<--
– Exposed to air
 Anode Chamber -->
– Stores fuel

 ^ for H+ passage
Membrane - Allows
Microbial Fuel Cells
 Procedures
 A prototype microbial fuel cell was
designed and built. (next slide)
 Factors affecting microbial fuel cell
efficiency were measured and evaluated.
– Surface area of electrodes
– Bacterial conc. on anode/in solution
– Aerobic vs anaerobic conditions
– Supplemental O2 sources
 Single and mixtures of enzymes were tested in
the prototype cell to compare power output.
 Significant Factors Affecting
Microbial Fuel Cell Operation
 Type of electrodes
 Surface area of electrodes

 Use of catalysts on electrodes and PEM

 Conc. of hydrocarbon in anode chamber

 Agitation of hydrocarbon molecules

 Rate of replacement of hydrocarbons

 Types of microbes/enzymes

 Conc. of microbes/enzymes
 Examples of microbial-based fuel cells
Microbe Substrate Mediator Anode Voltage

E coli Glucose Methylene Pt- C-cloth 625mV

Blue
Bacillus Glucose Thionine Vitreous 640mV
subtilis Carbon
E coli Acetate Neutral red Graphite 250mV
felt
Pseudomona Methane 1-Naphthol-2- Pt-black 550mV
s Sulfonate indo-
2,6
methanica dichlorophenol

Proteus Sucrose Thionine Carbon rod 350mV

vulgaris
 Significant Factors Affecting
Microbial Fuel Cell Operation
 Types of mediators
 Conc. of mediators

 Distance between electrode and PEM

 Type of proton exchange

membrane(PEM)
 Surface area of PEM

 Source of oxygen

 Temperature effects
Pseudomonas sp.
Mediator Shuttling Electrons
Types of Electrodes
 Power Output C rod vs
C cloth -aerobic E coli

1.6

Cloth Elec

1.4 C Rod Elec

1.2
mWatts/cm2

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

Time Hrs
Carbon Rod and Carbon Fiber
Electrodes
Power Output of C rod Biofilm vs
C rod Solution –anaerobic Ecoli
180

160
C rod biofilm
Solution Bacti
140

120
mWatts/cm2

100

80

60

40

20

0
0 5 10 15 20 25

Time(hrs)
Proposed Advantages of Enzyme Use
1. Immediate contact with substrate

2. Elimination of metabolism of
substrate by bacteria

3. Elimination of possible mixing of

hazardous bacterial types

4. If immobilized on electrodes, no
mediators are required.
Immobilized Enzyme /Cathode
Interaction
Glucose Dehydrogenase
 Partial Composition of PEB
Enzyme Solution
 Lipase

 Protease

 Amylase

 Hydrolase

 Likely-dehydrogenases, lactase,
decarboxylase, invertase
 Supplied by Enzyme Solutions, Inc
PEB EnzymeTrial –anaerobic-C rod
3

2.5

2
watts/m2

1.5

0.5

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70

Time(hrs)
PEB Trial C rod Cathode vs Pt Cathode
3

2.5
Trial #1 C Rod
Trial #2 Pt

2
Watts/m2

1.5

0.5

0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100

Time Hrs
Total Power Output in 22 hrs

2500

2000
Watts ( meter2)

1500

1000

500

0
0.56 1.11 2.22 4.44 8.89
PEB conc. pph anode solution
Long Term PEB Enzyme Action
4

3.5

2.5
Watts/m2

2 Watts/m2

1.5

0.5

0
0 20 40 60 80 100 120

Time -Hrs
 PEB Investigation Trends and
Conclusions
1. Optimum power output developed in 2hrs
Whole Ecoli cells PEB solution
0.2 watts/m2 2.1 watts/m2

2. Prolonged power output at 24 hrs

0.14 watts/m2 2.05 watts/m2

3. Prolonged optimum power output continued for 5

days.

4. Pt. coating on the anode did not improve the

efficiency of the enzymatic cell.
 Uses for
Implantable Enzymatic Fuel Cells
(To utilize arterial glucose and oxygen with
immobilized enzymes on electrodes in a
noncompartmentalized cell)

 Micropumps-insulin, pain meds, arthritis

 Current for-nerve stimulation, hearing aids

 Heart pacemaker (cells in series)

Immobilized Enzymes on
Electrodes
Implantable Arterial Fuel Cell
 Additional Uses of
Enzymatic Fuel Cells
 Space-regeneration of human waste
 Treatment of human waste in
developing countries
 Treatment of household wastes in
place of landfills
 Industry-detoxify chemical wastes

 Portable units- power generation

 Acknowledgments
 University of Notre Dame
 RET Program

 Dr. Alex Hahn

 Dr. Robert Nerenberg

 Dr. Valli Sarveswaran