Download 1 - UGent

A
C
4
B
C
1
C3
C2
A
Current
Voltage
B
Current
Voltage
C
1
2
Voltage
3
4
Time
Figure 1. Schematic overview of the principle of MFC and the different measurement
techniques for electrochemical characterization. A: Cyclic voltammogram of an anode
enriched microbial consortium; B: Cyclic voltammogram of a hexacyanoferrate cathode; C:
Guidelines for MFC experiments
2
evolution of the potential over time of an anode (─) and a cathode (─) during the current
interrupt method
A
B
C
E
F
D
Figure 2. Types of MFCs used in studies: (A) easily constructed system containing a salt
bridge (shown by arrow); (B) four batch type MFCs where the chambers are separated by the
membrane (without a tube) and held together by bolts; (C) as B but with a continuous flow
through anode (granular graphite matrix) and close anode-cathode placement; (D)
photoheterotrophic type MFC; (E) single-chamber, air-cathode system in a simple “tube”
arrangement; (F) two chamber H-type system showing anode and cathode chambers equipped
for gas sparging.
Guidelines for MFC experiments
A
B
3
C
E
D
Figure 3. MFC used for continuous operation. (A) Upflow, tubular type MFC with inner
graphite bed anode and outer cathode; (B) Upflow, tubular type MFC with anode below and
cathode above, the membrane is inclinated; (C) flat plate design where a channel is cut in the
blocks so that liquid can flow in a serpentine pattern across the membrane; (D) single –
chamber system with an inner concentric air cathode surrounded by a chamber containing
graphite rods as anode; (E) stacked MFC, in which 6 separate MFC are joined in one reactor
block
Guidelines for MFC experiments
4
Cell voltange / V
0.8
A
0.6
0.4
0.2
A
B
Power / mW
0.0
15
A
B
B
10
5
0
0
10
20
30
40
Current / mA
Figure 4. Polarization (A) and power (B) curves of a microbial fuel cell operating on starch.
Curves A are the original data from (Niessen, Schröder et al. 2004); Curves B represent a
mathematically manipulated dataset in which the effect of the change of the internal fuel cell
resistance from 10 Ω to 30 Ω is illustrated.