UNIVERSITY OF BUCHAREST
FACULTY OF PHYSICS

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Conference: Bucharest University Faculty of Physics 2012 Meeting


Section: Physics and Technology of Alternative Renewable Energy Supplies


Title:
Microbial fuel cells. The electrical response with water collected from different ecosystems


Authors:
Ana CUCU, T.A.COSTACHE, C.CEAUS, Ana.M.DUCU, S.M.IORDACHE, L.POPOVICI, I. STAMATIN


Affiliation:
University of Bucharest, Faculty of Physics, Romania

3Nano-SAE Research Centre, University of Bucharest, Romania


E-mail
cuana2050@yahoo.com


Keywords:
microbial fuel cells, aqueous ecosystems, electricity generation, chatode catalyst


Abstract:
Two microbial fuel cell models were studied: 1) two chambers, anode and cathode separated by a proton exchange membrane and 2) monochamber fuel cell model consisting of anode compartment and the cathode exposed to air. Five aqueous ecosystems as anolytes were tested in two chamber microbial fuel cell and evaluated for electricity generation (distiled water, a culture of beer yeast, water from Sabar river, water from the Black Sea and water from Siutghiol lake). For the monochamber model, were evaluated the electrical potential for microbial culture from Sabar river. The three monochamber MFCs had deposited different types of carbon as cathode catalysts (expanded graphite, KJB and graphenes) to improve the oxygen reduction reaction at the cathode side and to replace the use of Pt cathode catalyst. The systems were monitored from 5 to 5 minutes for almost a week and for all solutions were determined the pH, conductivity and dissolved oxygen values before and after the measurements. The best electrical potential attained from the two chamber systems was delivered by the microbial fuel cell with water from the Balck Sea with a potential value of 994 mV and from the monochamber fuel cells with water from Sabar river the best potential result was attained by the one with KJB as chatode catalyst with a value of 354 mV. Note:This work was financially supported by contract POSDRU/107/1.5/S/ 80765