Microbial fuels types

The so-called microbial fuel cells (MFC) are a completely different type of fuel cell. Here, bacteria are used to convert a bio-usable substrate directly into electricity. In the future, it might be possible to run an MFC for medical purposes by using glucose directly from the patient s bloodstream (Logan et al., 2006). 

The high classification success rate obtained for the weathered fuel samples suggests that information about fuel type is present in the gas chromatograms of weathered jet fuels. This is a significant finding, since the changes in composition that occur after a jet fuel is released into the environment can be a serious problem in fuel spill identification. These changes arise from microbial... 

The only deviation from this pattern is the DMFC (direct methanol fuel cell) which uses methanol as a fuel without intermediate reforming and microbial fuel cells that use sugar as a fuel and derive current from the metabolic activity of yeast. Both types use a solid ion exchange membrane type electrolyte (proton exchange membrane). 

A new group of fuel cell is microbial fuel cells (MFCs), which is a novel technology that produces electricity using bacteria as electrocatalysts. The performance of MFCs is influenced by the type of electrode, the electrode distance, the type and surface area of their membrane, their substrate and their microorganisms. The most common catalyst used in cathodes is platinum (Pt). Ghasemi et al. applied chemically and physically activated carbon nanofibers as an alternative cathode catalyst to platinum in a two-chamber microbial fuel cell for the first time [155]. 

Shin SH, Choi Y, Na SH, Jung S, Kim S (2006) Development of bipolar plate stack type microbial fuel cells. B Kor Chem Soc 27(2) 281-285... 

Fuel types and their susceptibility to microbial contamination... 

Dissolved water is also present in the fuel. The amount of water solubility in fuel is related to the hydroearbon ehain length, the presence of an aromatic structure, and temperature. Shorter chain paraffins dissolve more water than the longer chain paraffins. Kerosene fuels are more susceptible to microbial attack because they have a greater capacity to absorb dissolved water than other fuel types. There is 1 part per million (ppm) of dissolved water in aviation kerosene fuel for every degree Celsius (C) above zero (Park, 1975). An aromatie hydroearbon ean dissolve five times more water than straight chain hydrocarbons. Chemicals used to treat fuel such as preservatives can also contribute to the dissolved water content. 

Chang IS, Jang JK, Gil GC, Kim M, Kim HJ, Cho BW, Kim BH (2004) Continuous determination of biochemical oxygen demand using microbial fuel cell type biosensor. Biosens Bioelectron 19(6) 607-613. doi 10.1016/s0956-5663(03)00272-0... 

N.E. Stein, H.V.M. Hamelers and C.N.J. Buisman, Influence of membrane type, current and potential on the response to chemical toxicants of a microbial fuel cell based biosensor. Sens. Actuators B 163,2012,1-7. 

Kim, H.-J., Hyun, M.-S., Chang, l.S. and Kim, B.-H. (1999d) A microbial fuel cell type lactate biosensor using a metal-reducing bacterium, Shewanella putrefaciens. J. Microbiol. Biotechnol. 9(3), 365-367. 

Shin, S.-H., Choi, Y., Na, S.-H., Jung, S. and Kim, S. (2006) Development of bipolor plate stack type microbial fuel cells. Bull. Korean Chem. Soc. 27(2), 281-285. 

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