GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY USING A DOUBLE CHAMBER MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

GENERATION OF ELECTRICITY USING  A DOUBLE CHAMBER MICROBIAL FUEL CELL 

ABSTRACT

The  microbial  fuel  cells  (MFCs)  was  used  to  generate  electricity  from  waste  water  and  fresh  water, Design  MFCs  using  different  types  of  materials  for  the  electrodes  on  the  generation  of  electrical power  from  two  MFCs,  operated  identically  with  a  waste  activated  sludge  feed  and  understand how  bacteria  and  other  living  organisms  can  be  used  to  produce  energy.  For  this  set  of  tests,  using a  fresh  set  of  substrate  and  distilled  water  without  the  addition  of  either  glucose  or  salt,  it  was observed  with  Copper  (Cu)  acting  as  the  electrode  for  both  anode  and  cathode,  a  voltage  of  0.073V  was  generated.  Alternating  the  electrode  in  the  same  samples,  using  Copper  (Cu)  for  the anode  chamber  and  Aluminium  (Al)  for  the  cathode  chamber,  a  voltage  of  0.420V  was  generated. The  BOD  readings  measured  before  and  after  treatment  were  22ˑ32mg̸  L  and  19ˑ86mg̸  L respectively,  this  shows  that  as  electricity  is  being  harnessed  the  wastewater  is  being  treated simultaneously,  making  the  MFC  setup  highly  economically  advantageous  in  solving  the wastewater  disposal  problem  of  the  environment  as  well  as  that  of  power  (electricity).  Also  the conductivity  of the wastewater sample was measured to be 2790μscm.For the efficiency  of MFC we compare different types of electrodes and anodes to obtain different power  output. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS  

ABSTRACT 

TABLE OF CONTENTS 

LIST OF TABLES 

LIST OF FIGURES 

LIST OF PLATES 

CHAPTER ONE 

INTRODUCTION 

1.1 General Overview 

1.2 Aim and Objectives of Study 

1.3 Justification of the Study 

1.4 Scope of Study 

CHAPTER TWO 

LITERATURE REVIEW 

2.1 Review of Previous Study 

2.2 MFC Configuration 

2.2.1 Single Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell 

2.2.2 Dual Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell 

2.4 Difference between the Single and Double Chamber MFC 

2.5 Microorganisms and Microbial Fuel Cell 

2.6 MFC Classification 

2.7 Effects of Operating Conditions in MFC 

2.7.1 Effect of Electrode Materials 

2.7.2 PH Buffer and Electrolyte 

2.7.3 Proton Exchange System 

2.7.4 Operating Conditions in the Anodic Chamber 

2.7.5 Operating Conditions in the Cathodic Chamber

2.8 Applications of MFC 

2.8.1 Electricity Generation 

2.8.2 Bio Hydrogen Generation 

2.8.3 Wastewater Treatment 

2.8.4 Biosensor 

CHAPTER THREE 

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 

3.1 Materials 

3.1.1 Electrodes for both anode and cathode 

3.1.2 Proton Exchange Membrane or Salt Bridge 

3.1.3 Plastic Containers for the Aerobic and Anaerobic Chamber 

3.1.4 Substrate 

3.1.5 Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC) Pipes

3.1.6 Digital Multi-Meter 

3.1.7 Adhesive Glue 

3.1.8 Masking Tape 

3.1.9 Other Materials 

3.1.10 Salt 

3.2 Components for Microbial Fuel Cell Construction 

3.2.1 Anode

3.2.2 Cathode 

3.2.3 Membrane 

3.2 Experimental Setup 

3.3 Sample Collection 

3.4 Methods 

CHAPTER FOUR 

RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 

4.1 Dual Chamber MFC Setup 

CHAPTER FIVE 

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 

5.1 Conclusion 

5.2 Recommendation 

REFERENCES