Authors : N. Guerrero-Rangel, J.A. Rodriguez-de la Garza, Y. Garza-Garcia, L.J. Rios-Gonzalez, G.J. Sosa-Santillan, I.M. de la Garza-Rodriguez, S.Y. Martinez-Amador, M.M. Rodriguez-Garza and J. Rodriguez-Martinez
Abstract: Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) are capable of converting the chemical energy stored in the chemical compounds in a biomass to electrical energy with the aid of microorganisms. A better understanding of the relationship between the microbiological and electrical aspects of fuels cells is needed prior to successful MFC application. MFC constructed employing low-cost materials (salt bridge, graphite electrodes) without addition of any toxic mediators and using glucose (3 g L-1) as substrate and three different electron acceptors potassium permanganate (KMnO4), potassium ferricyanide (K3[Fe(CN)6]) and potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) in the cathode chamber without pH adjustment was assessed in the present study. The results showed that MFC performance with KMnO4 was superior than K3[Fe(CN)6] and K2Cr2O7. Maximum voltage generation (OCV) and power density for KMnO4 were 1.04 V and 7.29 mW m-2. Performance of MFC with K3[Fe(CN)6] and K2Cr2O7 was much lower with a OCV and power density of 0.71 V; 0.92 mW m-2 and 0.56 V; 0.79 mW m-2, respectively. Demonstrating that KMnO4 can be used as an effective cathodic electron acceptor to enhance power output on MFC.
N. Guerrero-Rangel, J.A. Rodriguez-de la Garza, Y. Garza-Garcia, L.J. Rios-Gonzalez, G.J. Sosa-Santillan, I.M. de la Garza-Rodriguez, S.Y. Martinez-Amador, M.M. Rodriguez-Garza and J. Rodriguez-Martinez, 2010. Comparative Study of Three Cathodic Electron Acceptors on the Performance of Medatiorless Microbial Fuel Cell. International Journal of Electrical and Power Engineering, 4: 27-31.