Improving Power Generation in Microbial Fuel Cells

0401885LoganAs细菌代谢有机底物（电子供体），电子通过呼吸酶转移到电子受体。微生物燃料电池（mfc）利用这种基本的代谢过程，将细菌呼吸酶的电子直接转移到电极（阳极）上，电极与另一个电极（阴极）相连，阴极在一个单独的隔间中暴露在空气中（或电子受体O2）。电极之间的电子流动产生电流，并形成燃料电池的基础。虽然目前产生的电量很小，但废水处理的潜在经济效益是巨大的。研究人员试图系统地评估MFC设计和配置对发电的影响。研究人员特别寻求确定可以重新设计的系统组件，以提高现有配置的经济可行性，并提高整体发电率。这些包括阴极与阳极的表面积比和间距、PEM材料、阴极材料和阳极材料。

0401885LoganAs bacteria metabolize organic substrates (electron donor), electrons are transferred via respiratory enzymes to an electron acceptor. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) take advantage of this basic metabolic process by transferring the electrons from the bacterial respiratory enzymes directly to an electrode (anode), which is wired to a second electrode (cathode) that is exposed to air (or the electron acceptor, O2) in a separate compartment. The flow of electrons between the electrodes creates a current, and forms the basis of the fuel cell. Although the amount of electricity generated is small at this point, the potential economic benefit for wastewater treatment is enormous. The investigators seek to systematically evaluate the effect of MFC design and configuration on power generation. The researchers specifically seek to identify system components that can be re-designed to improve economic viability of existing configurations, and to improve overall rates of energy generation. These include cathode-to-anode surface area ratio and spacing, PEM material, cathode material, and anode material.