Alternative Ways of Generating Electric Current by Using Microbial Oxidation: Microbial Fuel Cell

摘要

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a type of bioelectric chemical fuel cell system that generates electric current by diverting electrons produced from the microbial oxidation of reduced compounds is called as fuel or electron donor on the anode to high-energy oxidized compounds including oxygen it is also called as oxidizing agent or electron acceptor on the cathode through an external electrical circuit. MFCs can be grouped into general categories: mediated and unmediated. The first Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC's), demonstrated in the early 20th century, used a mediator: a chemical that transfers electrons from the bacteria in the cell to the anode. Unmediated MFCs emerged in the 1970’s; in this kind of MFC the bacteria typically have electrochemically active redox proteins such as cytochromes on their outer membrane that can transfer electrons directly to the anode. In the 21st century MFC's have started to find commercial use in wastewater treatment.