The microbial fuel cell (MFC) has gained interest among the scientific community due to the feasibility of transforming organic wastes directly into electrical energy through biocatalysis or enzymatic bioelectrochemical reactions. In the present study, an effective coculture system, namely, Serratia marcescens AATB1 and Klebsiella pneumoniae AATB2, was used in the MFC system. The isolated strains, AATB1 and AATB2 were identified as biofilm producing bacteria. The experiments were performed in a two‐chambered MFC setup with septic tank wastewater as the substrate in a 5 days batch mode. Pure culture of S. marcescens AATB1 and K. pneumoniae AATB2, and their cocultures were able to produce energy with the maximum current densities of 728.85 ± 36 mA/m2, 642.19 ± 32 mA/m2 and 869.11 ± 43 mA/m2, respectively, and the maximum power densities of 341.65 ± 17 mW/m2, 257.51 ± 12 mW/m2 and 398.69 ± 19 mW/m2, respectively. During the process, cyclic voltammetry analysis has revealed the electrochemical behavior of the anodic biofilm. Approximately, 70.42% ± 3.52% of chemical oxygen demand removal was achieved during the process. Biofilm formation by the adhesion of microbes on the electrode surfaces was visualized by confocal laser scanning microscope and scanning electron microscope. All the three MFC systems were produced by biofilms containing extracellular polymeric substance from S. marcescens AATB1 (55 ± 2.75 μg/cm2 of protein, 61 ± 3.05 μg/cm2 of carbohydrate) and K. pneumoniae AATB2 (46 ± 2.30 μg/cm2 of protein, 53 ± 2.65 μg/cm2 of carbohydrate) and coculture (60 ± 3.00 μg/cm2 of protein, 69 ± 3.45 μg/cm2 of carbohydrate). Furthermore, the anode biofilm metabolites were identified by Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry (GC‐MS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance NMR spectroscopy.

Bioelectricity generation and analysis of anode biofilm metabolites from septic tank wastewater in microbial fuel cells

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is used to remove organic pollutants while generating electricity. Biocathode plays as an efficient electrocatalyst for accelerating the Oxidation Reduction Reaction (ORR) of oxygen in MFC. This study integrated biocathode into a single-chamber microbial fuel cell (BSCMFC) to produce electricity from an organic substrate using aerobic activated sludge to gain more insights into anodic and cathodic biofilms. The maximum power density, current density, chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal, and coulombic efficiency were 0.593 W m−3, 2.6 A m−3, 83 ± 8.4%, and 22 ± 2.5%, respectively. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by biofilm from the biocathode were higher than the bioanode. Infrared spectroscopy and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) examined confirmed the presence of biofilm by the adhesion on electrodes. The dominant phyla in bioanode were Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Actinobacteria, while the dominant phylum in the biocathode was Proteobacteria. Therefore, this study demonstrates the applicable use of BSCMFC for bioelectricity generation and pollution control.

Anodic and cathodic biofilms coupled with electricity generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cell using activated sludge

M. J. ANGELAA LINCY,1 B. ASHOK KUMAR,2 V. S. VASANTHA,3
and P. VARALAKSHMI11Department of Molecular Microbiology, School of Biotechnology, 
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India2Department of Genetic Engineering, School of Biotechnology, 
Madurai Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India3Department of Natural Products, School of Chemistry, Madurai 
Kamaraj University, Madurai, Tamil Nadu, India3.1 Introduction 63
3.2 Components of a Fuel Cell 663.2.1 Types of Fuel Cells 67
 3.2.2 Types of MFC Based on the Reactor Models 74
 3.2.3 Components of a Microbial Fuel Cell 75
 3.2.4 Applications of Microbial Fuel Cells 76
 3.2.5 Microbial Fuel Cells in Electricity Generation 76
 3.2.6 Mechanism of Electricity Production 76
 3.2.7 Microbial Fuel Cells in Hydrogen Production 77
 3.2.8 Microbial Fuel Cells in Wastewater Treatment 78
 3.2.9 Environmental Sensors 79
3.2.10 Bioremediation 793.2.11 Organisms Employed in Fuel Cells 79
3.3 Conclusion 80
Keywords 80
References 80ABSTRACTThe Indian sub-continent is luxuriously bestowed with all wealth in the 
form of population, land and ocean. Being placed as the second highly 
populated nation in the world, India is under the urge to nurture the 
needs of its population. Its various demands such as the demand for food, 
employment, economy, etc., can be completely resolved if the country 
is adequately supplied with energy. But adequate supplying of energy to 
such a vast population is quiet an impossible task, which demands seek 
for alternative energy sources. The widely known alternative energy 
sources are generally, renewable energy sources such as solar cells, fuel 
cells and wind power. At this moment, several fuel cell types based on 
hydrogen and methanol work appropriately, and applications already exist 
for, for example, portable computers. However, the question can be raised 
whether this energy generation is really sustainable. Furthermore, the customer may not like to carry hydrogen gas (even captured within a metal 
hydride matrix) or methanol. But, Microbial fuel cells can operate on a 
large variety of substrates that are readily available, even in any supermarket. Substrates such as plain sugar and starch are easy to store, contain 
more energy than any other feed type per unit of volume, and are easy to 
dose. Furthermore, they have a more ‘green’ image than, for example, 
methanol. Moreover, MFCs can be developed that are environmentally 
friendly in terms of material composition.

Microbial Fuel Cells: A Promizing Alternative Energy Source

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Microbial Fuel Cells: A Promizing Alternative Energy Source