Design and development of a

Microbial Fuel Cell to

generate electricity using
wastewater.
GWEME OWEN EDSON R198710A
SUPERVISED BY ENG. T GWAVAVA
introduction
As the world grapples with an imminent energy crisis brought on
by the depletion of nonrenewable resources the necessity for
alternative and eco-friendly power sources becomes increasingly
apparent.
In this regard harnessing knowledge gained from natural
microorganisms to produce electricity using economical substrates
is a promising solution through Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)
Microbial fuel cells leverage microbes' catabolic abilities to break
down organic matter and release electrons that are subsequently
transported across an external circuit for electricity generation.
They provide us with a cheaper and cleaner source of energy as
compared to other conventional methods of generating electricity.
backgroun
d
Problem statement
• Zimbabwe is facing a pressing challenge of meeting its
ever-increasing energy demands while simultaneously
reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• Therefore there is an urgent need for sustainable and
environmentally friendly alternatives to conventional
power generation
justification
MCFs can be designed for
Microbial fuel cells provide a dual
By utilizing waste water, decentralized power generation
benefit of treating wastewater and
microorganisms oxidise organic allowing electricity to be generated at
producing usable energy, making the
matter present in wastewater the site of wastewater treatment thus
process more economically and
producing electricity. eliminating the need for extensive
environmentally viable.
transmission infrastructure.

MCFs have the potential to be cost-

The release of untreated wastewater
effective compared to traditional
into the environment can be
wastewater treatment methods and
minimized.
power generation.
Aim

 The aim of this project is to design and develop a microbial fuel cell to
generate electricity using wastewater.
objectives
• To generate electricity efficiently by harnessing the metabolic activities
of microorganisms to convert the chemical energy present in wastewater
into electrical energy.
• To simultaneously treat water while generating electricity hence the
design should facilitate effective removal of organic pollutants, nutrients
and pathogens from wastewater.
• To identify the microorganisms that are capable of effectively oxidizing
the organic matter present in wastewater and transferring electrons to the
anode.
• To maximize overall energy recovery and system efficiency by
integrating additional energy capture or utilization processes.
Methodolog
y

Microbial Source Reactor configuration Assembly and Literature review and

selection construction research

Conceptual Design Electrode design and Costing

Material selection
THANK YOU
•3