Microbial fuel cell compared to a chemostat

Greenman, John; Mendis, Buddhi Arjuna; Gajda, Iwona; Ieropoulos, Ioannis A.

Abstract

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent a green and sustainable energy conversion system that integrate bacterial biofilms within an electrochemical two-electrode set-up to produce electricity from organic waste. In this review, we focus on a novel exploratory model, regarding “thin” biofilms forming on highly perfusable (non-diffusible) anodes in small-scale, continuous flow MFCs due to the unique properties of the electroactive biofilm. We discuss how this type of MFC can behave as a chemostat in fulfilling common properties including steady state growth and multiple steady states within the limit of biological physicochemical conditions imposed by the external environment. With continuous steady state growth, there is also continuous metabolic rate and continuous electrical power production, which like the chemostat can be controlled. The model suggests that in addition to controlling growth rate and power output by changing the external resistive load, it will be possible instead to change the flow rate/dilution rate.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 11, 2022
• Online Publication Date: Feb 14, 2022
• Publication Date: Jun 30, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jun 3, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 19, 2023
• Journal: Chemosphere
• Print ISSN: 0045-6535
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 296
• Article Number: 133967
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.133967
• Keywords: MFC Chemostat Steady state Dilution rate Growth rate Electrical power
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/10835910
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S004565352200460X?via%3Dihub