Checking graphite and stainless anodes with an experimental model of marine microbial fuel cell

Bioresour Technol. 2008 Dec;99(18):8887-94. doi: 10.1016/j.biortech.2008.04.054. Epub 2008 Jun 16.

Abstract

A procedure was proposed to mimic marine microbial fuel cell (MFC) in liquid phase. A graphite anode and a stainless steel cathode which have been proven, separately, to be efficient in MFC were investigated. A closed anodic compartment was inoculated with sediments, filled with deoxygenated seawater and fed with milk to recover the sediment's sulphide concentration. A stainless steel cathode, immersed in aerated seawater, used the marine biofilm formed on its surface to catalyze oxygen reduction. The cell implemented with a 0.02m(2)-graphite anode supplied around 0.10W/m(2) for 45 days. A power of 0.02W/m(2) was obtained after the anode replacement by a 0.06m(2)-stainless steel electrode. The cell lost its capacity to make a motor turn after one day of operation, but recovered its full efficiency after a few days in open circuit. The evolution of the kinetic properties of stainless steel was identified as responsible for the power limitation.

MeSH terms

  • Bacteria / cytology*
  • Bioelectric Energy Sources*
  • Electricity
  • Electrodes
  • Graphite / chemistry*
  • Models, Biological*
  • Seawater / microbiology*
  • Stainless Steel / chemistry*

Substances

  • Stainless Steel
  • Graphite