Overview of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Recent Advancement from Fundamentals to Applications: MFC Designs, Major Elements, and Scalability

Abstract

Fossil fuels and carbon origin resources are affecting our environment. Therefore, alternative energy sources have to be established to co-produce energy along with fossil fuels and carbon origin resources until it is the right time to replace them. Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a promising technology in the field of energy production. Compared to the conventional power sources it is more efficient and not controlled by the Carnot cycle. Its high efficiencies, low noise, and less pollutant output could make it revolutionize in the power generation industry with a shift from centrally located generating stations and long-distance transmission lines to dispersed power generation at load sites. In this review, several characteristics of the MFC technology will be highlighted. First, a brief history of abiotic to biological fuel cells and subsequently, microbial fuel cells is presented. Second, the focus is then shifted to elements responsible for the making MFC working with efficiency. Setup of the MFC system for every element and their assembly is then introduced, followed by an explanation of the working machinery principle. Finally, microbial fuel cell designs and types of main configurations used are presented along with scalability of the technology for the proper application.

A state of the art review on electron transfer mechanisms, characteristics, applications and recent advancements in microbial fuel cells technology

“…H-type MFC is one of the most widely used doublechamber MFC. The main advantage of double-chamber configuration over single-chamber is that the cathode performance can be controlled by providing oxygen, adding mediators in the cathodic chamber, adding oxygen, and increasing flowrate, thus enhancing the overall performance of MFC (87). The limitation of low power production in H-type MFC is because of highinternal-resistance; therefore, this type of MFC is mainly used for the research of basic parameters such as analysis of microbial communities or evaluation of power generation using new separator or electrode material (88).…”

“…As in this design oxygen availability is not limited, like in the case of dissolved aqueous form of oxygen, much larger power outputs can be obtained (91,92). This type of reactor design also offers many other advantages such as simplicity of design, reduced electrode spacing, less internal resistance, and enhanced proton diffusion (87). Singlechamber solar-assisted (photosynthetic) MFC design is very advantageous as it does not require any substrate as long as the light is available.…”

“…This is a type of configuration in which MFCs are connected in either parallel or series circuits, hence called stacked MFC (Figure 2(d)). This type of construction does not influence individual cell's columbic efficiency, however; it increases the power of the overall battery (87). Stack configuration yields higher voltage in series connection and higher current in parallel connection.…”

“…Stack configuration yields higher voltage in series connection and higher current in parallel connection. Efficient designing of MFC is a critical process in which several factors are to be kept in consideration such as reactor shape, electrode type, modulation, stack direction (vertical or horizontal type) and determining connection method (87).…”

Optimization of anolyte solution in Microbial Fuel Cell using statistical experimental design

“…Many studies practiced the classical optimization methods for bioelectricity generation, which involve the alteration of one factor at a time, while keeping all other factors at a predetermined level (Flimban et al, 2018). In this approach, a series of experiments are carried out using a large number of variables which need to be tested to determine the optimum level.…”