Microbial Fuel Cells: The Design, Construction, and Evaluation of a Novel Fuel Cell

Overview

Objectives/Goals # Objectives/Goals- Our objective was to build a microbial fuel cell of our own design and see if it would produce electricity with a bacterial environment growing in the anode compartment. The second goal was to test the fuel cell with waste matter such as sewage. Methods/Materials # Methods/Materials- The microbial fuel cell was constructed from Plexiglas, metal valves, wire, two graphite electrodes, a proton exchange membrane, and silicon sealant which would be able to both produce electricity and harbor bacteria. It was built by taking the electrode and proton exchange membrane and encasing it in a Plexiglas compartment we designed with valves and wires connecting to the electrode; we then made it airtight with the sealant. The cultivation of our bacteria was done under anaerobic conditions using nitrogen gas to replace oxygen with the following nutrients: glucose (20mg/L) Wolfe#s vitamin solution (10ml/L) Wolfe#s Mineral Solution (10ml/L) Nutrient broth (8mg/L). The cultured bacteria were inserted into the anode chamber and the cell#s electrical output was tested using an amp meter and logger pro. Results Control test with no bacteria present produced an average of 0.07 volts. The solution produced a background signature which was taken into account. Pseudomonas putida, bacteria known for aiding in electron transport, averaged 0.11 volts. Rhodoferax ferrireducens, our primary bacteria, averaged 0.16 volts, with a maximum of 0.174 volts. Rhodoferax ferrireducens, on average, doubled voltage output compared to the control with no bacteria. A consortium of both bacteria, averaged 0.17 volts, with a maximum of 0.194 volts. This data supports the characteristics of each bacteria found in our research. We theorize that Pseudomonas aided Rhodoferax with transporting electrons to the electrode, creating an increase in voltage. Conclusions/Discussion # Conclusion/Discussion- With our fuel cell design and setup, we were able to measure a power output greater with the bacteria in the anode chamber than with the nutrient solution alone. This shows that our design was successful in doing what we designed it to.

Awards (1)

• First Place

Competition history

• CSEF 2007 Environmental Engineering · Entry S0909

Resources

• CSEF project summary ↗

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