Factors Affecting the Performances of Microbial Fuel Cells

3 Factors Affecting the Performances of Microbial Fuel Cells 

Up to date, performances of laboratory MFCs are still much lower than the ideal performance. Electricity generation in an MFC is a combined effect of (i) microbial catabolism, (ii) electron transfer from microbes to the anode (anode performance), (iii) reduction of electron acceptors at the cathode (cathode performance), and (iv) proton transfer from the anode to cathode. Factors affecting each of the above processes may have a great influence on the overall MFC performance, thus appropriate experimental conditions is very important. Many modifications have been carried out to improve each of these processes, leading to higher total power output of MFCs. As listed in Table 2.5, major factors affecting the power generation of MFCs include microbial catalytic activity, anode and cathode performances, proton transfer efficiency and solution chemistry. 

Major Factors Affecting the Power Generation of MFCs 

Factors Methods for Facilitation of Power Generation of MFCs 

Microbial catalytic activity Use mixed cultures Inoculated with pre-acchmated bacteria Afjply appropriate anode potential Add surfactants into the anode biofilm 

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Zhao, F., Rahunen, N., Varcoe, J.R., Roberts, A.J., Avignone-Rossa, C., Thumser, A.E., and Slade, R.C.T. (2009) Factors affecting the performance of microbial fuel cells for sulfur pollutants removal. Biosensors Bioelectromagnetics, 24 (7), 1931-1936. 

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