Microbial Fuel Cell: A Source of Bioelectricity

Investigatory Project Submitted to the Faculty of the

Senior High School Department
University of Cebu – Pri
Cebu City

CEBALLOS, RUSSEL G.
CHUA, KIM CEZAR M.
ESTREMOS, LOUVHEN PAUL T.
MANGOLARE, JOAN DARLIE B.
MENDEZ, THANIA M.
PAQUERA, JEAH D.

STEM 2A

S.Y. 2018-2019
 Abstract

Energy crisis and output pollution of energy has been a global issue. The demand
for energy is currently greater than the supply of generated energy. The study aimed to
investigate the effectiveness of microbial fuel cell as an alternative source of energy.
Microbial fuel cells are bioelectrochemical devices that use bacteria as a catalyst to
oxidize organic and inorganic matters that generates electricity. The mud sample was
accumulated, and the structure was made. After such process, a test for the voltage
generated and its current was done. The generation of voltage and its current was
monitored and tested using a multimeter for a week. The study showed that the microbial
fuel cell is an effective source of bioelectricity. However, the generated electricity is still
low and lacks oxygen that causes a limited time capacity of the cell. Therefore future
research may use an alternative source of organic material to increase microbial activities
to generate greater power.

INTRODUCTION demand specially in most places of

Mindanao wherein 90% of the
Rationale population depends on the hydroelectric
energy generated by dams and falls
Energy problem has been an (Department of Energy, 2018). A study
issue on many countries in the world. shows that 2.36 million households
One out of seven people across the globe which is 10.4% of the Philippines
still lives without electricity. The global population does not have access to
electrification rate rose to 85% in 2012 electricity. Many more are limited to
from 83% in 2010 (Rowling, 2015). An four to six hours access to electricity,
estimated 1.1 billion or 14 % of the Xinhua (2017).
world’s population does not have access
to electricity. Many more suffer from Cebu has limited choices for
poor energy supply and power shortages. renewable energy. The weather
The demand for energy has been far conditions in Cebu is not suitable to be
greater than the energy generated converted into energy because it is not
(Energy Access Outlook,2017). In order known for strong winds and solar heat is
to overcome energy crisis, the world available for only 5 hours a day
have opened their minds to renewable (Gonzales, 2016).
energy such as solar power, thermal
power, and microbial fuel cell. A study found out that majority
of the people in Cebu have no access to
The Philippines have been electricity located in island and mountain
suffering from energy problems ever barangays (Cabrera, 2015).
since the 80's and 90's which made them
engage to renewable energy such as To answer these problems due to
hydroelectricity. However, due to this event, using a Microbial Fuel Cell
significant growth of energy (MFC) as an alternative source of
consumption the renewable energy bioelectricity can be a solution to
generated is not enough to supply the convert energy. Visayan Electric
Company (VECO) is the second largest is found that reactor design has a critical
electric utility in the Philippines with an impact on the execution of MFCs.
estimated customer of 1.73 million, Carbon-based anode materials are
Cebu is one of the cities that they served. capable of competing with costly
A rural electrification project in catalysts in control era and strength.
continuing to energize far-flung Concerning the cost perspective,
barangays in Cebu, recently put sitio advance investigation of unused
Cabalsaan in Minglanilla town. The materials or advancement of existing
Aboitiz utility company has brought cathode materials will widen the
economic development and improved applications of MFCs. Moreover, MFC
quality of life to allocate of its electricity conjugated bioreactor frameworks can
sales to fund rural electrification deliver noticeably comes about in
programs. The Department of Energy wastewater treatment at financially
(DOE) targets to have 90% of all achievable numerals (G Bhargavi et al,
households in Region 7 powered by 2018).
2017 (Perdices, 2017).
According to D. Bose and A.
People must be conscious about Bose (2017), topsoil microbial
their usage of electricity in order to save community fundamentally comprises of
power, and will not reach the energy bacterial species that can create power in
crisis. case a microbial fuel cell is consolidated
with it. Since such electron creating
This study addresses the energy microbes are plenteous in nature,
crisis and the production of CO 2 from microbial fuel cells can be considered as
non-renewable energy such as fossil clean source of power era and a prospect
fuels. We encounter mud everyday for renewable vitality development.
specially on rainy seasons due to the Here, the authors have appeared tests
Philippine’s geographical features. The with a genuine microbial fuel cell,
researchers sought to find a way to make exploring electrical control generation
mud useful by turning mud into energy. from it utilizing the Himalayan beat soil
Microbial Fuel Cell is a device that use of Dehradun in Uttarakhand, India. A
bacteria as a catalyst to oxidize organic two week think about uncovered a crest
and inorganic matters and generate control of 0.99 mW and voltage over the
electric current. terminals rise up to 1.54 V; moreover,
different supplements were included to
the soil, like kitchen squanders and
Review of Related Literature and acetic acid derivation to see the control
Studies creating capacity of the soil organisms.

Related Literature According to Darmawan et al.

(2017), elective vitality sources to
This study summarizes distinct- substitute fossil-based vitality is
ive reactor arrangements and both anode anticipated, as the fossil energy reserves
and cathode materials that have been diminishing each day. Mud is considered
created to make strides the execution as to be prudent as the fabric sources for
well as the fetched decrease of MFCs. It creating the power where it may be
found effortlessly and liberally in unmodified stainless-steel anode was
Indonesia. The presence of a part of mud utilized in MFC- 3 (control). Fivefold
that contains natural fabric has awesome increase in control was gotten in MFC-1
potential as a source of electrical vitality (17.1 W/m3 at 20 Ω) than MFC-3
utilizing microbial fuel cells (MFCs). It (3.5 W/m3). MFC with raw goethite
gives a promising innovation by coated anode moreover appeared
corrupting natural compounds to improved power (11 W/m3) Higher
surrender the economic vitality. Coulombic effectiveness (34%) was
accomplished in MFC-1 than control
Eaktasang et al. (2013) stated MFC-3 (13%). Decrease in mass-
that a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell transport losses and higher redox current
(MFC) vaccinated with Desulfovi- during electrochemical analyses support
briodesulfuri-cans and supplemented improved electron transfer using of
with lactate as a natural fuel was utilized goethite on anode. Cheaper goethite
in this consider. Biofilm shaped on the coating actively quickens to accelerate
anodic terminal was inspected by the transfer of electron between bacteria
checking electron microscopy, and anode, demonstrating to be novel
uncovering that the sum of biofilm was approach for improving the electricity
expanded with rehashed cycles of MFC generation together with natural matter
operation. The current generation removal in MFC (Jadhav et al., 2015).
productivity was related to the biomass
of biofilm shaped on terminal, which According to A. Parkash (2016),
was moreover expanded as the MFC run microbial fuel cell are new types of
has rehashed. It was moreover found that bioreactors that use exoelectrogenic
D. Desulfuricans, which was colonized biofilms for electrochemical energy
on the terminal, created fibers or nano- production. Microbial fuel cell explored
pili given to cell-to-cell interface and in many aspects, such as electron
invigorated the improvement of thicker transfer mechanisms, enhancing power
electroactive biofilm, and thus, they outputs, reactor developments and
encouraged electron exchange to the applications.
anode. Conclusively, the biofilm of D.
Desulfuricans enhanced the current The salt bridge helps in
generation within the MFC as a result of maintaining charge balance for the
successful connection of cells and reason that electrons are moving from
electron exchange from the cell arrange one-half cell to the other. The flowing of
to the anode. electrons from the anode to the cathode.
The oxidation reaction that happens at
Catalytic effect of goethite the anode produces electrons and
recovered from iron-ore mining mud was positively charged ions. The electrons
examined in microbial fuel cell (MFCs). moved through the wire which leaves the
The characterization of material unbalanced positive charge. Thus, in
recovered from mining mud confirms the maintaining neutrality, the negatively
recovery of iron oxide as goethite. Heat charged ions in the salt bridge will
treated goethite (550 °C) and untreated transfer into the anodic half cell (Shebel,
raw goethite in stainless- steel anode of 2017).
MFC-1 and MFC- 2, respectively; while,
 In the study of Franks (2011); the allowing the improvement of vitality
capability of a bacteria known as proficient frameworks for wastewater
Geobacter sulfurreducens in producing treatment (Gouveia, 2014).
electricity happen naturally in almost
any types of mud found in river, sewage In accordance to the study of
or waste. The bacteria usually use this Spohres et al. (2018), an oxidation-
process to breath without oxygen. reduction (redox) reaction is a type of
Furthermore, the bacteria that can chemical reaction that involves between
produce electricity do so by directly two species in transferring of electrons.
transferring electrons to the anode. Most The two species that exchange electrons
notably, they produce filaments that can in a redox reaction are oxidizing agent
directly transfer electrons in the way (an ion that accepts electrons), and
which metal does. With the bacteria reducing agent (the species that donates
Geobacter sulfurreducens has electrons). To sum up, the reducing
demonstrated that these filaments, called agent is oxidized and the oxidizing agent
nanowires which act as tiny wires. is reduced. The oxidation number of an
atom, molecule or ion change by
increasing and decreasing a percentage
Related Studies of electrons. Redox reactions are vital to
people’s everyday life, including
This study illustrates the respiration, photosynthesis, combustion
simultaneous production of bioelectricity and corrosion or rusting.
and added-value pigments in a
Photosynthetic Alga Microbial Fuel Cell Problem Statement
(PAMFC). Chlorella vulgaris was used
in operating the PAMFC in the cathode The study aims to investigate the
compartment and a bacterial consortium effectiveness of microbial fuel cell as an
within the anode. The framework was alternative source of energy in terms of
considered at two distinctive light force the amount of voltage generated.
and the most extreme control created
was 62.7 mW/m(2) with a light Hypothesis Statement
concentrated of 96 μE/(m(2)s). The
results showed that increasing light The Microbial fuel cell is
intensity from 26 to 96 μE/(m(2)s) will effective as an alternative source of
lead to increase of about 6- folds in the energy in terms of the voltage generated.
power produced. Moreover, the
pigments created by the microalga were METHODOLOGY
analyzed and it was shown in the results
that light intensity and PAMFC Materials
operation potentiated the  1 Meter Stainless Steel mesh
carotenogenesis within the cathode  6 Pieces Plastic containers
compartment. The illustrated possibility  3 Meters Copper wire
of producing added-value microalgae  2 Pieces Alligator clip
biomass in microbial fuel cell cathodes  1.5 Kilos of Mud
will increment the financial possibility of  4 Liters Distilled Water
these bioelectrochemical frameworks,
 2 Tablespoon of Salt
  2 Meters Cotton Rope a copper wire. Furthermore, in the MFC
 1 Sealant structure, plastic containers of the mud
 1 Piece Electrical Tape (anode) and distilled water (cathode).
 1 Multimeter Holes were drilled on the lids of the
containers for the electrodes and holes
Procedure were drilled on the sides of the
containers for the salt bridge. The salt
The procedures in making the bridge was then connected to the holes
microbial fuel cell are the following: and sealed with a sealant. Lastly, one
container was filled with mud while the
The mud sample was other was with the distilled water. The
accumulated at the river in Poblacion electrodes were then submerged in the
Oriental, Consolacion, Cebu City. It is mud and water and inserted the copper
where you will find the wires into the drilled holes on the lids.
electrochemically active anaerobic Alligator clips was attached to each
bacteria. The sample can be collected loose end of the copper wires.
from the bottom of a lake, river or creek.
Topsoil can also be used as sample Testing Process
mixed with distilled water. Mud sample
was then placed in a container and cover. The effectiveness of the
While in making the salt bridge, salt was Microbial Fuel Cell was tested in terms
used and dissolved in heat water over of the amount of voltage generated and
stovetop. The cotton rope was soaked its current.
in the salt water and covered by
electrical tape but exposing both ends of To test the amount of voltage
the rope and inserted in the side of the generated, a multimeter was used. The
containers. On the other hand, for the researchers monitored the voltage
electrodes, folded stainless steel mesh generated and current from microbial
was both attached to the Strip ends off of fuel cell on a daily basis for 7 days.

Result and Discussion

Table 1. Voltage and Current Test

VOLTAGE (V)
Day 1 0.763 V
Day 2 0.626 V
Day 3 0.583 V
Day 4 0.526 V
Day 5 0.496 V
Day 6 0.405 V
Day 7 0.386 V
 Table 1 shows the amount of
voltage generated by the microbial fuel
cell day by day. It shows that day one
has the highest voltage generated which
is 0.763 V and a current of 0.02 A, while
day 7 as the lowest which generated
0.386 V and a current of 0.01 A. The
table shows a descending order from day
1 to day 7 which depicts that the voltage
generated by the microbial fuel cell
decreases day by day.

CONCLUSION and
RECOMMENDATION

Conclusion

Based on the findings, the

microbial fuel cell is an effective
alternative source of energy in terms of
the voltage generated and its current.
The generated voltage of the microbial
fuel cell is still low and it was observed
that the cell rapidly dropped down to a
low value. Due to lack of oxygen, the
generation of voltage consequently
slowed down the process. Thus, the
lifetime of the microbial fuel cell is
limited by the lifetime of bacteria within
the sample of mud.

Recommendation

The researchers recommend

more containers to be used to generate
greater power.

An oxygen pump can be added to

each of the cathodes to have a faster
generation of voltage.

Further researchers may use any

other organic waste material as long as
there are enough bacteria as a substitute
for the mud sample.