Iron sulfide electrode tests

The same type of SMFC was tested by Ryckelynck et al. (2005) in Yaquina Bay, OR, with the device located at water depth of 5 m (low tide). The electrodes were the same as used by Tender et al. (2002), except here the available surface area was defined based on all exposed surfaces (0.542 m ). The reactor produced continuous power at 11 mW/m. If the projected surface area is instead used, this is equivalent to 33 W/m, which is a range similar to that reported by Tender et al. (2002) for this device at the Newport location. Iron and sulfur were enriched on the anode 400 and 20 times, respectively, after operation at this site. Community analysis of the bacteria showed a predominance of 8-Proteobacteria, primary sulfate reducing bacteria consisting of Desulfobulbus spp. and Desulfocapsa spp. It was concluded that sulfides (primarily FeS and FeS2) were the primary chemical sources used by bacteria for power generation. 

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