MICROBIAL FUEL CELL POTENTIAL OF MARINE

BACTERIA FOR ELECTRICAL ENERGY PRODUCTION

Project Review Presentation

Hariharan B (9919001020)
Hari Krishnan L (9919001019)
Naveen Chander MS (9919001033)
Under the guidance of
Dr. N. SAMSUDEEN (EXTERNAL)
Department of Chemical Engineering
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli

Dr. B. VANAVIL (INTERNAL)

Department of Biotechnology
Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education
INTRODUCTION
● Use of the fossil fuels can trigger global energy crisis and increased global warming hence there is
considerable interest in research fraternity on green production.
● Microbial Fuel Cells have the potential to simultaneously treat wastewater for reuse and to generate
electricity; thereby producing two increasingly scarce resources.
● Microbial fuel cell technology represents a new form of renewable energy by generating electricity
from what would otherwise be considered waste, such as industrial wastes or waste water etc.
WORK PLAN

JULY TO AUGUST • Literature studies on MFC and the microbes

• Collecting and Isolation of marine bacteria.

AUGUST TO SEPTEMBER
• Design and Construction of MFC

• Running of Cycle.
SEPTEMBER TO OCTOBER
• Calculating the range of energy production.

• Calculating the conversion rate of COD level in waste water

OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER • Report preparation.
 LITERATURE REVIEW
S.NO Author’s name Title of the paper Significance of the study

1 Christwardana et al., Sustainable electricity generation from This study developed a photo-bioelectrochemical cell based on
photo-bio electrochemical cell based on CNT-chlorophylls to produce photocurrent by lighting electrodes
carbon nanotubes and chlorophyll anode. in water-based solutions. The extracted chlorophyll from
Chlorella vulgaris microalgae was used to modify carbon
nanotube (CNT) as a photo-biocatalyst offering low cost and
abundant resources

2 Rahimnejad et al., Microbial fuel cell as new technology for This study shows that microorganisms actively catabolize
bioelectricity generation: A review substrate, and bioelectricities are generated. MFCs could be
utilized as power generator in small devices such as biosensor.
Besides the advantages of this technology, it still faces practical
barriers such as low power and current density

3 Elakkiya et al., Comparison of anodic metabolisms in Energy generation from dairy industry wastewater was
bioelectricity production during treatment investigated using a dual chambered Microbial Fuel Cell by
of dairy wastewater in microbial fuel cell. aerobic and anaerobic anodic metabolism, operating with initial
COD concentration of 1600 mg/L and anolyte pH of 7 produced
highest power density of 192, 161 mW/m2 and volumetric power
of 3.2, 2.7 W/m3 with COD removal efficiency of 91% and 90%
 LITERATURE REVIEW

S.NO Author’s name Title of the paper Significance of the study

4 Liu et al., Production of Electricity during Changes in the amount of BOD removed relative to COD
Wastewater Treatment Using a Single removed reflect differences in the biodegradability of the
Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell wastewater samples fed to the reactor, large statistical variations
in BOD test results (±20% even at a single laboratory), and
some losses of BOD that may have occurred in the volume-
control tank (no electrodes) (5−20% variation in BOD). Not all
of the organic matter in a wastewater can be biologically
degraded, so that COD removals are typically lower than those
for BOD removal
5 Loannis et al., Comparative study of three types of Three different generations (Gen-I, -II and -III) of microbial fuel
microbial fuel cell cell (MFC), distinguished by their historical development and
mechanisms of electron transfer, were compared. Gen-I utilised
synthetic redox mediators combined with Escherichia coli. In
contrast, the Gen-II exemplar utilised the natural mediating
properties of sulphate/sulphide with the sulphate reducing
species Desulfovibrio desulfuricans. Gen-III MFCs were based
on the anodophillic species Geobacter sulfurreducens and
required no soluble mediator.
LITERATURE REVIEW

S.No Author’s name Title of the paper Significance of the study

6 Arun et al., Algae based microbial fuel cells for Photosynthetic aeration by microalgae can replace
wastewater treatment and recovery conventional aeration in MFCs.
of value-added products PAMFCs are well-suited for electricity production
without mechanical aeration.
Use of microalgae in MFCs improves nitrogen,
phosphorous and CO2 removal rates.
Microalgae can be effectively used as a substrate for the
anodic compartment.
7 Sharon et al., Energy from algae using microbial This study shows how algae used in bioelectricity
fuel cells production from a phytoplankton, Chlorella vulgaris,
and a macrophyte, Ulva lactuca was examined in single
chamber microbial fuel cells (MFCs). MFCs were fed
with the two algae (as powders), obtaining differences in
energy recovery, degradation efficiency, and power
densities.
LITERATURE REVIEW
S.NO Author’s name Title of the paper Significance of the study

8 Yufeng Cui et al., Electricity generation and microalgae In this study, a microbial fuel cell(MFC) was developed
cultivation in microbial fuel cell using to treat waste, produce electricity and to grow microalgae
microalgae-enriched anode and bio-cathode. simultaneously. Dead microalgae biomass (a potential
pollution vector in streams) was used as a substrate at
anode. CO2 generated at anode was used to grow
freshwater microalgae at cathode.

9 Naim Rashid et al., Enhanced electricity generation by using algae In this study, they exploited the potential of sustainable
biomass and activated sludge in microbial fuel energy production from wastes. Activated sludge and
cell. algae biomass are used as substrates in microbial fuel cell
(MFC) to produce electricity. Activated sludge is used at
anode as inoculum and nutrient source.

10 Sekar et al., Enhancing power generation and treatment of Performance of the bio-electrochemical treatment and
dairy waste water in power generation in microbial fuel cell (MFC)
microbial fuel cell using Cu-doped iron oxide were examined by utilizing carbohydrates and proteins
nanoparticles decorated containing dairy effluent successfully. The efficiency
Anode. of power production in MFC with nanoparticles modified
anode was investigated.
LITERATURE REVIEW

S.NO Author’s name Title of the paper Significance of the study

11 Mehrotra et al., Bioelectrogenesis from ceramic membrane- Dairy wastewater is used as substrate in ceramic MFC with algal
based algal-microbial fuel cells treating dairy biocathode.
industry wastewater Algal photosynthesis driven oxygenation in cathodic chamber
enhance power production.
Wastewater treatment efficiency of A-MFC.

12 Choudhury et al., Process engineering for stable power recovery This study shows that the Process development to achieve stable
from dairy wastewater using microbial fuel voltage from dairy wastewater.
cell Fed batch kinetics and performance analysis of MFC.
Characteristics of polarization and power density curve.

13 Huang et al., A Simple Culture Method Enhances To fully understand the physiological and metabolic characteristics of
the Recovery of Culturable microbes, however, culturing is still critical for microbial studies.
Actinobacteria From Coastal Here, we used bacterial community analysis and four culture media,
Sediments namely, traditional marine broth 2216 (MB), water extracted matter
(WEM), methanol extracted matter(MEM), and starch casein agar
(SCA), to investigate the diversity of cultivated bacteria in coastal
sediments.
OBJECTIVES
● To enhance the electric energy production of Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) using different marine
microbes.
● To study the reduction of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in distillery waste water using
MFC.
PRINCIPLE

● MFC is a bio-electro chemical system. It is a device that

convert organic matter into energy using microorganism as
catalyst.
● MFC convert chemical energy to electrical energy.
● MFC works based on redox reactions.
● It produce electricity by harnessing the natural metabolism
of microbes.
● Microbes(bacteria) oxidize the organic matter to produce
carbon dioxide (CO2), electrons, and protons.
● Electrons run through the circuit to generate power.
COMPONENTS OF MFC
● Anode chamber.
● Cathode chamber.
● Proton Exchange Membrane(Nafion 117).
● Electrodes (graphite).
● Copper wire that joins electrodes.
● Distillery waste water.
ANODE CHAMBER
● In Anode Chamber, distillery wastewater is used as substrate.
● The electrode in the MFC is made up of Graphite.
● The microbes present here oxidizes the organic matter in wastewater which generates electrons,
protons and CO2
● Anodic Reaction:
CH3COO-+ H2O→ 2CO2 + 2H+ +8e-
CATHODE CHAMBER
● In Cathode Chamber, marine bacteria is inoculated with its growth media.
● The electrode in MFC are made up of graphite.
● Electrons from anode chamber are transferred to the cathode chamber through external circuit to
generate current.
● Electrons and Protons are consumed in cathode chamber,combining with O 2 to form water.
● Cathodic Reaction:
02 + 4e- + 4H+→ 2H₂O-
METHODOLOGY
● Isolation and culturing of marine bacteria was performed.
● Fuel cell was constructed with two chambers separated by a membrane.
● Wastewater added in the anode chamber whereas bacteria and its growth media are added in the
cathode chamber.
● Graphite electrodes are inserted in both the chambers and connected using copper wires
● Both chambers are closed and should be in anaerobic condition.
METHODOLOGY

● The cell is connected with Data Acquisition device to measure the Voltage.
● The setup will run a cycle for 7 days and for every hour the readings are noted.
● With readings, the electrical energy production of MFC using marine bactera is compared with MFC
using control.
● By using COD Analyser ,the COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) of the wastewater is noted before the
MFC cycle and after the Cycle.
● By comparing both COD values, rate of reaction is known.
CELL FABRICATION

● Acrylic Sheet is used for the MFC System

Fabrication.
● After Treating the Membrane, the Membrane is
Pasted between two Acrylic Sheet with a Square
shaped hole in the centre.
● Then, the system is Fabricated using gum.
● After Fabrication Check for any Leakages using
Water. If any Leakages, the Leakage should be
repaired.
MEMBRANE TREATMENT
● Membrane kept in boiled water for 30 minutes, temperature of the water should be 80 degree celsius to
90 degree celsius.
● After that the membrane kept in 5% H2O2 for 30 minutes.

● After that process the membrane kept in 0.5M H2SO4 for 1 hour.
● Membrane stored in deionized water in dark area.
 ISOLATION OF MARINE BACTERIA
● Marine water samples were collected during the month of July from Kanyakumari sea using sterile bottle.

The samples were brought to the laboratory and necessary dilutions were made to carry out further
microbiological analysis.

● Isolation of marine bacteria was done in nutrient agar medium.

● The autoclaved nutrient agar medium containing petri plates were prepared aseptically.

● Sea water were serially diluted using distilled water and 0.1 ml of serially diluted samples were added to
the petri plates containing nutrient agar medium and spread using an ‘L’ shaped glass spreader.

● The plates were incubated at 37◦C for 48 hours.

● After the incubation period, morphologically distinct colonies were picked up from the petri plates and

Inoculated in the Nutrient media and pure cultures were obtained and it is maintained at 4 ◦C for future use.
BACTERIAL GROWTH STUDIES
● Bacterial growth was studied
● Growth Curve was plotted for 24hrs at OD@600nm vs Time.
● Bacteria is then inoculated in distillery waste water to check its Growth Potential and
the OD was measured.
GROWTH CURVE
VOLTAGE DATA

● Cycle conditions:
● All the MFC systems were filled with 5% distillery wastewater of pH-8 at the anode
chamber and potassium phosphate buffer of pH-7.5 at the cathode chamber.
● Anode chamber are in anaerobic condition so it were sealed.
● Cathode chamber are in aerobic condition.
Time Sample 1 Sample 2
T0 0 0
T1 0.001 0.005
T2 0.004 0.01
T3 0.015 0.025
T4 0.02 0.1
T5 0.027 0.179
T6 0.068 0.215
T7 0.121 0.223
T8 0.28 0.365
T9 0.473 0.558
T10 0.584 0.597
T11 0.687 0.674
T12 0.724 0.749
T13 0.874 0.861
T14 0.92 0.865
T15 0.945 0.87
T16 0.963 0.886
T17 0.975 0.89
T18 0.996 0.895
T19 1.017 0.896
T20 1.021 0.911
T21 1.023 0.918
T22 1.035 0.976
T23 1.053 0.98
T24 1.168 1.053
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
• We would like to thank Dr.N.SAMSUDEEN , Assistant professor, Department of Chemical Engineering,
National Institute of Technology Tiruchirappalli.
• We would like to thank Dr.B.VANAVIL, Associate professor , Department of Biotechnology, Kalasalingam
Academy of Research and Education for the constant encouragement for providing their support.
• We would like to acknowledge the support provided by Dr.K.SUNDAR , Dean, School Of Bio and Chemical
Engineering, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education.
• We would like to thank to the Head of the Department , Dr.T.KATHIRESAN , Professor, Department of
Biotechnology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education for the constant encouragement.
• We would like to thank all faculties , Department of Biotechnology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and
Education for the constant encouragement for providing their support.
• We also express our sincere thanks to the project coordinator Dr.K.JYOTHI, Assistant Professor, Department of
Biotechnology, Kalasalingam Academy of Research and Education for the constant encouragement.
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