Investigation of the effect of the parameters of flow rate, chemical oxygen demand, and the type of microorganism on the performance of microfluidic microbial fuel cell (μMFC)

The present paper reports the effect of flow rate, chemical oxygen demand, and type of microorganism on the performance of a microfluidic microbial fuel cell (μMFC) with a volume of 110 μL using three types of microorganism (Escherichia coli, Shewanella, and Chlorella). The power generated by the new microfluidic structure of the MFC with continues flow mode was compared for algal and bacterial species. The effect of chemical oxygen demand and the anolyte flow rate of 500, 1000, 1500, and 2000 mg/l and 1, 5, and 10 ml/h on the performance of a μMFC was examined. Culture medium of each species was used as substrates. The highest open circuit voltage of almost 700 mV was obtained by using Shewanella. Chlorella showed the lowest power density with an anolyte flow rate of 1 ml/h and COD of 2000 mg/l at 5 mW/m2. E. Coli with a COD of 1500 mg/l and input anolyte flow rate of 10 ml/h produced a maximum power density of 120 mW/m2. The maximum power density of 192 mW/m2, at the highest anolyte flow rate of 10 ml/h and COD of 2000 mg/l, was obtained for Shewanella.

Keywords:

Microbial fuel cell , Microfluidic , Power density , Shewanella , Escherichia coli , Chlorella