Performance improvement of microbial fuel cell (MFC) using suitable electrode and Bioengineered organisms: A review

Abstract

There is an urgent need to find an environment friendly and sustainable technology for alternative energy due to rapid depletion of fossil fuel and industrialization. Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) have operational and functional advantages over the current technologies for energy generation from organic matter as it directly converts electricity from substrate at ambient temperature. However, MFCs are still unsuitable for high energy demands due to practical limitations. The overall performance of an MFC depends on microorganism, appropriate electrode materials, suitable MFC designs, and optimizing process parameters which would accelerate commercialization of this technology in near future. In this review, we put forth the recent developments on microorganism and electrode material that are critical for the generation of bioelectricity generation. This would give a comprehensive insight into the characteristics, options, modifications, and evaluations of these parameters and their effects on process development of MFCs.

Catalyst Development of Microbial Fuel Cells for Renewable-Energy Production

“…Numerous research studies are being conducted to evaluate the influence of the electrode materials on the performance and cost of the MFCs. Carbon materials, which are noncorrosive, have been widely used because of their high electrical conductivity and chemical stability, e.g., carbon rod, carbon fiber, carbon felt, and carbon cloth [3]. Biocompatibility, specific surface area, electrical conductivity, and cost are important factors for its selection.…”

“…Therefore, metals are problematic to use, except for stainless and titanium. To improve such problem, materials in which metal is incorporated into graphite have been made [3].…”

“…However, the production of low power in MFCs is still a problem because of typical processes in living organisms, such as the uptake of glucose into cells, metabolism repression, and extraction of electrons from the inside of cells (Figure 2). Many researchers are working to solve such problems, and those results are summarized in recent review articles [2,3].…”

Magnetite nanoparticles enhance the bioelectrochemical treatment of municipal sewage by facilitating the syntrophic oxidation of volatile fatty acids

“…Over the last years, much research efforts have focused on the optimization of the microbe/electrode interface in order to boost the power output of MET via (i) engineering the structure and chemistry of the electrode and (ii) tailoring the biofilm structure/composition …”

“…19 Over the last years, much research efforts have focused on the optimization of the microbe/electrode interface in order to boost the power output of MET via (i) engineering the structure and chemistry of the electrode and (ii) tailoring the biofilm structure/composition. [20][21][22][23] As an example, a recent study 24 demonstrated the possibility to improve power generation by Shewanella PV-4 in a microbial fuel cell (MFC), by exploiting biogenic iron sulfide nanoparticles (NPs), capable of facilitating extracellular electron transfer reactions between microbes and the electrode. Studies designed to address the fundamental mechanisms of charge transport in this system showed that charge transport occurred only in the presence of live Shewanella, and moreover demonstrated that the enhanced current output could be attributed to improved electron transfer at the cell/electrode interface and through the cellular networks.…”