Currently, microbial fuel cells are primarily used to produce electricity in research labs. The fuel cells need to be improved so that they can consistently produce higher amounts of electricity than they can now in order for industrial applications to be taken into consideration in the future.
Meshack Imologie Simeon, University of Bayreuth, investigates microbial fuel cells for wastewater treatment and electricity generation. Image Credit: UBT/Chr. Wißler
A research team from the University of Bayreuth has looked into the factors influencing this in a recent study that was published in the journal Biotechnology for Biofuels and Bioproducts. It has been demonstrated that selecting the right electrode material is crucial for improving stability and performance.
The metabolism of microorganisms, which consume organic compounds to release electrons, powers the electrical…