Scaling Up of Microbial Fuel Cells

Reducing electrode spacing can proportionally decrease the electrolyte resistance, thus enhancing the performance of MFCs. It can also increase the ratio of the electrode surface area/volume and in turn maximise the volumetric power density. However, possible short circuit and increased oxygen diffusion to the anode would decrease power output when the electrodes get too close. So a separator which prevents electrode contact and oxygen diffusion is needed to keep the electrodes spacing and the internal 

As discussed above, large-scale applications of MFCs would require a high power output (achieved by effective electrodes, low electrode spacing, high solution conductivity and constant solution pH), simple fuel cell configuration, low construction cost and long-term stability. With continual efforts put into the search for cost-effective materials and optimal designs, MFCs have potential to become commercially available in the near future. 

MFCs can produce electricity from various organic sources, such as waste-waters, slugs and soils. According to the substrate resources, MFCs are categorised into three types (i) MFCs producing electricity from wastewaters. 

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Electrode Materials and Scale-Up of Microbial Fuel Cells... 

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