Microbial Fuel Cell Operation With Periodic Connection of the External Resistance

Abstract

Laboratory-scale microbial fuel cells are often operated with a constant electrical load. Meanwhile, variations in influent strength and quality, as well as the processes of biofilm growth and decay lead to significant changes of the MFC internal resistance over time. This inevitably results in a mismatch between the internal and the external resistances therefore decreasing MFC power output. This study presents the concept of MFC operation with intermittent connection of the electrical load (external resistance). The efficiency of the proposed method is demonstrated by MFC operation with external resistances significantly below the MFC internal resistance and comparing power outputs obtained using either constant or intermittently connected resistances.

Microbial Fuel Cell Biosensor with Capillary Carbon Source Delivery for Real-Time Toxicity Detection

“…The third biosensor (S3) had an identical design and was continuously operated on moderately hard water and used for microbial population analysis. All biosensors were constructed according to a previously described design of a membraneless air–cathode flow-through MFCs [ 28 ], but the frames were 3D-printed acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) instead of nylon plates [ 29 ]. The anodes were made of double-layered carbon felt, each measuring 10 × 5 cm and 0.5 cm thick (SGL Group, Charlotte, NC, USA).…”