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Microbial fuel cells utilising carbohydrates

Lookup NU author(s): Emeritus Professor Keith Scott, Cassandro Murano

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Abstract

The paper reports results of a mediatorless microbial fuel cell (MFC), utilising waste carbohydrate (manure) as a fuel, which did not use a catalyst or a proton exchange membrane and is thus environmentally friendly (by using no toxic substances) in treating waste. The cell used a manure sludge in the anode compartment and an aqueous salt solution (seawater) containing dissolved oxygen. The influence of the geometric position of the anode and cathode, both made of carbon cloth, had a major effect on the fuel cell power performance. The maximum power density obtained with the cell was 4.21 mWm-2. The paper also reports results of a mediated MFC using a yogurt bacteria and methylene blue as mediator. This cell produced a maximum power density of over 13 mWm-2. This power output compares quite favourably with that achieved with the same cell using glucose as fuel with E. coli (peak power densityy of 180 mWm-2). © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry.

Publication metadata

Author(s): Scott K, Murano C

Publication type: Article

Publication status: Published

Journal: Journal of Chemical Technology and Biotechnology

Year: 2007

Volume: 82

Issue: 1

Pages: 92-100

Print publication date: 01/01/2007

ISSN (print): 0268-2575

ISSN (electronic): 1097-4660

Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/jctb.1641

DOI: 10.1002/jctb.1641

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