Effect of biofilm properties on the electrochemical performance of microbial fuel cells

Ramaraja P. Ramasamy, Zhiyong Ren, Susan Redcloud-Owen, Matthew M. Mench, John M. Regan

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingConference contribution

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

With much of the MFC research around the world being focused on the engineering of the reactors, understanding the fundamental relationship between the microbiology and electrochemistry is critical to the advancement of this technology. Biofilms of variable thickness were grown separately in different microbial fuel cell reactors which were subjected to extensive electrochemical and microbiological tests. The correlation between microbial biofilm properties and the electrochemical performance was investigated in detail. It was found that the cell count, biofilm density and the type of communities in the anode biofilm had a direct influence on the power output of microbial fuel cells. Also the power density was directly dependent on the biofilm growth and increased significantly during the initial biofilm growth period. A variation in the biofilm morphology and composition was observed during the biofilm growth period which may have a serious impact on the performance of the microbial fuel cells.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Title of host publicationECS Transactions - Biological Fuel Cells 3
PublisherElectrochemical Society Inc.
Pages11-17
Number of pages7
Edition21
ISBN (Electronic)9781566776790
ISBN (Print)9781605606590
DOIs
StatePublished - 2008
Externally publishedYes
EventBiological Fuel Cells 3 - 213th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society - Phoenix, AZ, United States
Duration: May 18 2008May 23 2008

Publication series

NameECS Transactions
Number21
Volume13
ISSN (Print)1938-5862
ISSN (Electronic)1938-6737

Conference

ConferenceBiological Fuel Cells 3 - 213th Meeting of the Electrochemical Society
Country/TerritoryUnited States
CityPhoenix, AZ
Period5/18/085/23/08

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Engineering

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