Chapter 3 - Configurations of Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Different microbial electrochemical techniques have been developed for diverse applications such as wastewater treatment, biofuel production, biosensors, water reclamation, etc. Although the current and power densities obtained from these systems are much lower than chemical batteries, their prospective diverse applications and smaller carbon footprints make them an interesting choice as renewable energy resources. The high cost of materials (especially for membranes and catalysts) limit practical applications of microbial fuel cells (MFCs). With the development of low-cost membranes and even membraneless reactors, the possibility of constructing reactors in a cost-effective manner has emerged. It has been found that configuration and fuel are important factors for achieving higher power densities. Therefore, systems must be scaled up by considering all the factors contributing to the successful and economical development of MFCs.