Performance Analysis of a Microbial Fuel Cell Using Different Substrate Materials for Different loads

Abstract

This research paper analyses the current density and power density ofaduelchambermicrobial fuel cell using different substrate materials for different resistive loads. Sucrose, glucose and starch were treated as substrate and potassium ferricyanide was used as electron acceptor. The separation of the cathode and anode cell is provided by proton exchange membrane (PEM) in most of the microbial fuel cell (MFC). The most popular proton exchange membranes are nafion, hyflon, zirfon, ultrex CMI-7000 etc. But all of them are not available to use in this part of the world. As an alternate, salt bridge was used in this study as a PEM which is receptive to other ions and chemicals. Different organic materials like sucrose, glucose, starch can be used as substrate as those were available in organic wastage. As the container of bacteria, the sludge of drain of DhakaTreatment Plant was utilized. The voltage and current were measured across 9.81 kΩand 5.91 kΩ resistors. 716.32 mV was measured as thehighest voltage across 9.81 kΩ resistor while 4.65 mA/m2 and 3.09mW/m2 were recorded as maximum current density and power density respectively across 5.91 kΩ resistor for sucrose as substrate. The anode chamber was maintained in anaerobic condition. The temperature during these experiments was 22±2º C.