The mfcs have some operational and practical benefits such as. In this experiment students will build a sediment or mudbased battery and learn how bacteria can convert chemical energy, like that in wastewater, into electrical energy. In addition to electricity generation, microbial fuel cells can be used for wastewater treatment, desalination and biofuel production. Microbial fuel cells principles, development and applications chalmers energy conference january 27th 2011, goteborg, sweden. Pdf water and energy securities are emerging as increasingly important and vital issues for. Substrate is metabolized by bacteria, which transfer the gained electrons to the anode.
Microbial fuel cell mfc technology, which uses microorganisms to transform. An overview on how our fuel cell plants produce megawatts of power cleanly and efficiently. Industrial biotechnology department of chemical and biological engineering chalmers university of technology goteborg, sweden. A microbial fuel cell mfc is a bioelectrochemical system that drives an electric current by using bacteria and a highenergy oxidant such as o 2, mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature. Due to applications of electric current to achieve new redox balancing, electrochemically steered wastewater treatment for bioelectricity generation, dye. Microbial fuel cell mfc is emerging as a modern wastewater treatment technology which converts chemical energy stored in the bonds of organic matter present in wastewater directly into electricity using electrogenic bacteria as a catalyst, without causing environmental pollution. A search using the keywords microbial fuel cell and sensor in the sciencedirect database retrieved 67 articles on this subject for the years 20072017. Approximately 75% of these articles were published in the last 5 years, indicating the recent rapid growing interest in this field fig. Indian institute of technology hyderabad need of mfcmicrobial fuel cell. Microbial fuel cells principles and applications altenergymag. We use your linkedin profile and activity data to personalize ads and to show you more relevant ads. Soilbased microbial fuel cells adhere to the basic mfc principles, whereby soil acts as the nutrientrich anodic media, the inoculum and the proton exchange membrane pem. Finally, microbial fuel cell designs and types of main configurations used are.
Structural design of mfcs brings the nuances of electrical and materials engineering to the fore. Fuel cell seminar report with ppt and pdf study mafia. B actual microbial fuel cell showing the anode chamber left and cathode. Microbial fuel cells mfcs are a promising technology for energyefficient domestic wastewater treatment, but the effluent quality has typically not been sufficient for discharge without further treatment.
Mfc holds a key in green technology for the production of bioenergy simultaneously treating wastewater. The anode is placed at a particular depth within the soil, while the cathode rests on top the soil and is exposed to air. A microbial fuel cell is a bioelectrochemical device that can convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy. A twostage laboratoryscale combined treatment process, consisting of microbial fuel cells and an anaerobic fluidized bed membrane bioreactor mfcafmbr, was examined here. Spacecraft use a more primitive design called an alkaline fuel cell afc, while much greater amounts of power could be generated by an alternative design known as a solidoxide fuel cell sofc. The principle of working of mfcs is based on the tenets of microbial physiology coupled with electrochemistry.
Fuel cells are different from most batteries in requiring a continuous source of fuel and oxygen usually from air to sustain the chemical reaction. Wastewater treatment in microbial fuel cells an overview. What are microbial fuel cells a microbial fuel cell mfc is a bioelectrochemical device that harnesses the power of respiring microbes to convert organic substrates directly into electrical energy. This classification determines the kind of electrochemical reactions that take place in the cell, the kind of catalysts required, the temperature range in which the cell operates, the fuel required, and other factors. Two very great issues are daunting scientists todaythe fuel crisis and bio waste disposal the answer to both these problems may be provided by our planets smallest creatures. There is an immediate need for search of alternate routes for energy generation. Creates electricity through electrochemical process.
S and the world continue to increase and in an effort to aid energy independence, research initiatives are focused on alternate, renewable and carbon neutral energy sources. Essentially, we are harnessing the power of metabolism for electricity. Pdf principles of microbial fuel cell for the power generation. The principle of working of mfcs is based on the tenets of microbial. Microbial fuel cells are very promising as renewable energy sources. In the fall of 2002, i started work on microbial fuel cells mfcs and was fortunate to work with hong liu, a postdoctoral researcher with my group at that time, as she made essential creative and intellectual contributions to our laboratorys work on mfcs. Though small power output constrains its application for directly operating most electrical devices, great progress in its chemical, electrochemical. Fuel cells do not need to be periodically recharged like batteries, but instead continue to produce electricity as long as a fuel source is provided.
Proposed microbial fuelelectrolysis cell technology via electrofermentation for wastewater treatment. How do bacteria produce power in a microbial fuel cell. Fixing a forklift that sat in a field for 17 years brake job and rear wheel bearings part 1 duration. A fuel cell resembles a battery in many respects, but it can supply electrical energy over a much longer period of time. By the sheer number of articles published in the literature, number of researchers working in the field of microbial fuel cells mfcs vastly outnumbers both enzymatic and photosynthetic fuel cells. Journal of microbiology and biotechnology microbial fuel cells a boon or a ban. A fuel cell is composed of an anode, a cathode, and an electrolyte membrane. Electron transport phenomena of electroactive bacteria in. Electrons delivered by the microscopic organisms from these substrates. Construction, working and standardization of microbial. Substrate is metabolized by bacteria, which transfer the gained electrons to the anode 2. The working principle of mfc is similar to that of an electrochemical cell. But, the main difference between them is the microorganisms function in the microbial fuel cell to carry out the energy conversion 1.
Microbial fuel cells envis centre on environmental biotechnology. Figure 1 the working principle of a microbial fuel cell. A strategy has been used to reduce the cost of the construction and working of mfc. At this juncture, when the atmosphere is laden with greenhousegases, we can least afford to release stored carbon. In recent, researchers are working to optimize electrode. Also, if the microbial fuel cell is moved to a different location particularly if it is at a different temperature, this could disrupt the growth of the bacteria.
Sumit thakur ece seminars fuel cell seminar and ppt with pdf report. Microbial fuel cells mfc use the power of bacteria and. In the late 1970s, allen and bennetto explained the working principle. Electron transport phenomena of electroactive bacteria in microbial fuel cells. A fuel cell works by passing hydrogen through the anode of a fuel cell and oxygen through the cathode. While the energy produced is not yet practical for a.
Microbial fuel cell mfc is a promising technology where microbes are used in the oxidation of. Concurrently, recent advances in nanoscale science and technology are fueling a new wave of revitalization in the field of biocatalysis. If plantmicrobial fuel cells catch on, rice plants like these could mean energy as well as food. Today we are witnessing a global energy crisis due to huge energy demands and limited resources.
Fuel cell is very much similar to the electrochemical cell or an ordinary dry cell. Microbial fuel cell mfc is emerging as a modern wastewater treatment technology which converts chemical energy stored in the bonds of organic matter present in wastewater directly into electricity using electrogenic bacteria as a catalyst. Figure 4 schematic diagram of work principle for mediated electron transfer in enzymatic biofuel cells. Nonrenewable energy sources are depleting and renewable energy sources are not properly utilized.
Technological aspects of microbial fuel cells and soil. The microbial fuel cell mfc is a promising environmental biotechnology that has been proposed mainly for power production and wastewater treatment. Microbial fuel cells mfcs are bioelectrochemical devices that convert the chemical energy present in organic or inorganic compounds into electric current by using microorganisms as the catalysts. The most common type of fuel cell used in stationary power applications is the pemfc, but sofcs, mcfcs, afcs, and pafcs are also utilized. A microbial fuel cell is a bioreactor that converts chemical energy in the chemical bonds in organic compounds to electrical. Introduction microbial fuel cell mfc is one choice that has received attention as alternative energy in directly generating electricity from organic matters. A battery is when two different types of metals are connected together through what is. The applications of this technology come under the ambit of environmental engineering and bioremediation.
What are microbial fuel cells principle construction of mfc components of mfc working of mfc thermodynamics of mfc mfc design types of mfc applications of mfc advantages of mfc limitations of mfc conclusion references. This page contains fuel cell seminar and ppt with pdf report. Electrode material of carbon nanotubepolyaniline carbon. Working principle microbial fuel cells mfcs are devices that utilization microorganisms as the catalysts to oxidize natural and inorganic matter and create current 48. The following article gives an account of the basic principles involved in the functioning of microbial fuel cells and the major applications of microbial fuel cell technology, as it stands today. Phosphoric acid fuel cells an overview sciencedirect. The book addresses characterization techniques and operating conditions of microbial fuel cells, as well as the usefulness of various types of anode and cathode materials. Researchers are currently developing microbial fuel cells as a way to simultaneously treat wastewater and convert the energy into electricity. Pdf water and energy securities are emerging as increasingly important and vital issues for todays world. Working with colleagues from queen mary university of london and the bristol bioenergy centre, the bath researchers came up with a type of microbial fuel cell mfc that is powered by human urine.
Fuel cell seminar report with ppt and pdf parts of fuel cells there are 4 main parts anode cathode catalyst proton exchange membrane types of. Microbial fuel cells principles, development and applications. A twostage microbial fuel cell and anaerobic fluidized. This can occur either directly through the membrane or via mobile redox shuttles. Students will also be introduced to the fundamental principles surrounding energy conversion, microbial metabolism and. Microbial fuel cells mfcs have been described as bioreactors that convert the energy. Given the demand for a better understanding of the bioinorganic interface that plays a key role in mfc energy production, smallscale mfcs are receiving considerable attention owing to their intrinsic advantages in both fundamental studies and applications as. Fuel cell, any of a class of devices that convert the chemical energy of a fuel directly into electricity by electrochemical reactions. Subject presentation by bruce logan, penn state university, at the hydrogen, hydrocarbons, and bioproduct precursors from wastewaters workshop held march 18 19, 2015. Microbial fuel cell mfc is a device that converts chemical energy into electrical energy by using microorganisms. There are basically three components in each and every fuel cell. For the development of long lasting portable microbial fuel cells mfcs new strategies are necessary to overcome critical issues such as hydraulic pump system and the biochemical substrate.