Electricity from Microbial Fuel Cells

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a promising technology for treating wastewater and producing electricity using a diversity of inorganic/organic energy containing substrates. MFC performance has increased several orders of magnitude over the last decade and shows the potential for practical application. In this chapter, we review recent developments of MFC technology and provide an overview of the fundamental principles of MFCs, the electrode materials and their fabrication methods, and MFC architecture. We discuss the MFC stack and the feasibility of power generation, and we describe the various applications of MFC technology. Advances in highly efficient carbon materials used for electrodes have lowered the cost and improved the performance of MFCs. The construction of MFC stacks is a promising strategy for significantly enhancing power and current output. In addition, MFC-based biosensors for pollutant analysis and in situ process monitoring have widened the uses of MFC technology. Although high costs and low power output remain obstacles limiting its practical application, MFC technology is a carbon neutral technology that can be the foundation of a new generation of renewable energy systems.