Design and Fabrication of a Double Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell for Voltage Generation from Biowaste

Abstract

Electrical energy needs in Pakistan are expected to continue to rise. The use of petroleum as a source of energy still dominates, although oil reserves in Pakistan are increasingly being depleted. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative source of sustainable energy, such as, Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). MFC shows another type of renewable energy by changing natural matter into power with the help of microbes. In the current study, an attempt has been made to find the effect of molar concentration of salt bridge on electron transferring potential and to find the efficiency of bioelectricity generation by yeasts such as Hansenula anomala and Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Maximum current of 1.9 mV and 1.4 mV was generated by yeasts Hansenula anomala and Saccharomyces cerevisiae in 1M potassium chloride salt bridge with duration of 96 hrs. This work also demonstrates the feasibility of using yeasts Hansenula anomala and Saccharomyces cerevisiae for current generation, in a mediator less MFC. During the metabolism the fuels like glucose gets oxidized when they pass through the metabolic cycle. The possibility of alternative sources is one particular method of generating power is with the help of microbial fuel cell, which can minimize the usage of fossil fuels. MFCs can produce energy directly from biomass (electricity production) or producing hydrogen from biomass (fuel production). Biological fuel cell converts the chemical energy of carbohydrates such as sugar and alcohol indirectly into electrical energy.