Volum e 1 , I ssue 1 I SSN : 2 3 2 0 - 5 2 8 8
I n t e rn a t ion a l Jou r na l of En gin e e r in g Te chn ology &
M a n a ge m e n t Rese ar ch
Jou r n a l h om e pa ge : w w w .ij e t m r .or g
Use of Microbial Fuel Cell for the Evaluation of Power
Generation
Dr. Rani Ayachi Dr. Hemlata Bundela
HOD-Department of Humanity and Sciences Asst. Prof. Department of Humanity and Sciences
Takshshila Institute of Engineering & Technology, Takshshila Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Jabalpur (M.P.) [INDIA] Jabalpur (M.P.) [INDIA]
[email protected] [email protected] Amit Khare
M.Tech Student (Energy Technology)
Takshshila Institute of Engineering & Technology,
Jabalpur (M.P.) [INDIA]
Abstract—This research explores the mediator which in turn facilitate
application of MFC in generating extracellular electron transfer or by
electricity using waste water from added mediators.
different Industries. As parameter, it was
evaluated the electricity produced during The MFCs that use mediators as electron
MFC operation on variation at different shuttles are called mediator MFCs.
concentration of organic substances. Usually neutral red, thionine, methylene
Based on the results, it can be reported blue, anthraquinone-2, 6-disulfonate,
that the maximum voltage generated, phenazines and iron chelates are added to
which was 905 mV and current the reactor as redox mediators [6, 7].
generated, which was 252µA can be
achieved. The potential difference This is necessary because most bacteria
generated by the Fuel Cell was measured cannot transfer electrons directly to the
using millimeter. anode. Mediators like thionine, methyl
blue, methyl viologen and humic acid tap
K e y w o r d s – M F C , E l e c t r i c i t y, into the electron transport chain and
Pseudomonas, Electrodes, waste water. abstract electrons (becoming reduced in
the process) and carry these electrons
1. INTRODUCTION through the lipid membrane and the outer
cell membrane [10-12].
Microorganisms have high Coulombic
efficiency and can form biofilms on the 2 MATERIAL AND METHOD
anode surface that act as electron
acceptors and transfer electrons directly 2.1 MFC construction
to the anode resulting in the production 2.1.1 Electrode
of more energy [1-5]. In indirect electron Carbon electrode (Graphite) were used at
transfer, electrons from microbial carriers both the ends of cathode and anode and
are transported onto the electrode surface tightly fixed with the containers
either by a microorganism’s (Shewanella containing medium, culture and buffer.
oneidensis, Geothrix fermentans) own
International Journal of Engineering Technology & Management Research | Vol 1| Issue 1 | February 2013 134
Dr. Rani Ayachi, Dr. Hemlata Bundela, Amit Khare | Takshshila | Use of Microbial Fuel Cell for the
Evaluation of Power Generation
2.1.2 Cathodic chamber electron generating electricity in MFC
2.1.3 Anodic Chamber system.
The 1 liter sterilized plastic bottle is used
for this purpose. The bottle is surface All the components of MFC are
sterilized by washing with 70% ethyl connected i.e. via salt bridge internally
alcohol and 1% HgCl2 solution followed and with externally with wires to the
by UV exposure for 15 minutes. m ul ti m et er. The carboh ydrat e
concentration was tested along with
2.1.4 Salt bridge Bacterial isolate for their ability to
This is prepared by the method reported generate potential difference.
elsewhere in the literature.
3. RESULTS
2.1.5 Sugar Stock
2.1.6 Bacteria 3.1 Effect of increasing carbohydrate
Pseudomonas was used as micro concentration:
organism (biocatalyst The carbohydrate source used was
glucose. Different concentrations of
2.1.7 Mediator carbohydrate solutions were made and
2.1.8 Circuit Assembly filter sterilized by syringe filter method.
Two chambers were internally
connected by salt bridge and externally Table-1: Voltage generated by
the circuit was connected with copper Pseudomonas at different carbohydrate
wires which were joined to the two concentrations.
electrodes at its two ends and to the
Concentration of Maximum volt-
multimeter by another two ends. The
glucose solution age generated in
potential difference generated by the
used in g /l mV
Fuel Cell was measured by using
multimeter. 3 440
4 650
5 880
6 750
Figure 1- Schematic diagram of MFC
2.2 Operation
The bacteria will convert sugar Figure-2 Graph showing voltage generated by
components in the waste water into Pseudomonas at different glucose concentrations.
Carbon dioxide, where in the Note:- pbf- glucose present in water
intermediate process will be released sample of Food Industry.
International Journal of Engineering Technology & Management Research | Vol 1| Issue 1 | February 2013 135
Dr. Rani Ayachi, Dr. Hemlata Bundela, Amit Khare | Takshshila | Use of Microbial Fuel Cell for the
Evaluation of Power Generation
pbf + conc- glucose present in water 5. CONCLUSIONS
sample of Food Industry and
concentration of extra glucose added for Oxidation of these newly rigid sources
maximum voltage generation by of organic carbon does not supply net
bacteria. carbon dioxide to the environment and
unlike hydrogen fuel cells, there is no
3.2 Voltage generated by Pseudomonas requirement for wide pre-handing out of
at different time interval: the fuel or for costly catalysts. With the
suitable optimization, microbial fuel
Following results are obtained for cells might be able to power an
voltage generation that shows extensive collection of broadly used
encouraging output for the studies. procedure. Technology of Microbial
Fuel Cell is one alternative of energy
Table- 2. Voltage generated by production using renewable resource.
Pseudomonas when methylene blue
mediator was used. REFERENCES:
Time in hrs Voltage
[1] Rakesh Reddy N, Nirmal
generated(mV) Raman K, Ajay Babu OK and
At zero hour 140 Muralidharan A (2007).
Potential stage in wastewater
At 2 hours 260 treatment for generation of
bioelectricity using MFC,
At 4 hours 450 Current Research Topics in
Applied Microbiology and
Microbial Biotechnology 1 322-
326.
[2] Allen R.M., Bennetto H.P..
(1993). Microbial fuel cells:
electricity production from
carbohydrates. Appl Biochem
Biotechnol, 39-40:27-40.
[3] Derek,R L. (2008). The microbe
electric: conversion of organic
matter into electricity. Current
opinion in Biotechnology
19,564-571.
[4] Chaudhuri, S.K., and Lovley,
Figure-3 Graph showing voltage generated by D.R. (2003). Electricity
Pseudomonas at different time interval. generation by direct oxidation
of glucose in mediatorless
4. DISCUSSIONS microbial fuel cells. Nature
biotechnology 21, 1229-1232.
If the terminal electron acceptor oxygen [5] Kim, H.J., Park, H.S., Hyun,
is replaced by mediator then the M.S., Chang, I.S., Kim, M., and
Kim, B.H. (2002). A mediator-
electrons will be trapped by mediator,
less microbial fuel cell using a
which will get reduced and transport to metal reducing bacterium,
electrons to the electrode at anodic Shewanella putref aciens.
chamber. However when oxygen is not E n zyme a n d M i cr o bi a l
present (anaerobic condition) they Technology 30, 145-152.
produce carbon dioxide, protons and [ 6] Lovley, D.R. (2006). Bug juice:
electrons as described below [13]. harvesting electricity with
International Journal of Engineering Technology & Management Research | Vol 1| Issue 1 | February 2013 136
Dr. Rani Ayachi, Dr. Hemlata Bundela, Amit Khare | Takshshila | Use of Microbial Fuel Cell for the
Evaluation of Power Generation
microorganisms. Nat Rev Micro 4, [10] DiBucci, J. and Boland, T. (2011).
497- 508. Turning waste into wealth, the
[ 7] Du, Z., Li, H., and Gu, T. (2007). future of microbial fuel cells.
A state of the art review on Paper #1065, Conference Session
microbial fuel cells: A Promising #C5, Eleventh Annual Conference,
technology for wastewater Swanson School of Engineering,
t reat ment and bi oener gy. University of Pittsburgh.
Biotechnology Advances 25, 464- [11] Kim, J., Han, S., Oh, S. and Park,
482. Scholz, F., Mario, J., K. (2011). A Non-Pt Catalyst for
Chaudhuri, S.K. (2003). Bacterial Improved Oxygen Reduction
Batteries. Nature Biotechnology. Reaction in Microbial Fuel Cells.
Journal of the Korean
Vo l. 21( 10) pp 1151-1152.
Electrochemical Society. Vol. 14
[8] Mohan, V., Roghavalu, S.,
(2): 71 – 76.
Srikanth, G. and Sarma, P. (2007).
[12] Scott, K. and Murano, C. (2007).
Bioelectricity production by
Microbial fuel cells utilizing
mediatorless microbial fuel cells
carbohydrates. Journal of
under acidophilic conditions using
Chemical Technology and
wastewater as substrate loading
Biotechnology. Vol. 82 pp 92 –
rate. Current Science. Vol. 92 (12)
100.
pp 1720 – 1726.
[9] Logan, B.E, Hamelers, P.,
Rozendal, R., Schroder, U., Keller,
I., Freuguia, S., Alterman, P.,
Verstraete, W. and Rabaey, K.
(2006). Microbial Fuel Cells:
Methodology and Technology.
Environmental Science and
Technology, Vol. 40: 5181 – 5192.
International Journal of Engineering Technology & Management Research | Vol 1| Issue 1 | February 2013 137
