8.3.1 Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)

. . Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) A microbial Fuel Cell is a bio- electrochemical system that drives an electric current by using bacteria and mimicking bacterial interaction found in nature (Fig. . ) . Microbial Fuel Cells work by allowing bacteria to oxidize and reduce organic molecules. Bacterial respiration is basically one big redox reaction in which electrons are being moved around. A MFC consists of an anode and a cathode separated by a proton exchange membrane. Microbes at the anode oxidize the organic fuel generating protons which pass through the membrane to the cathode and the electrons pass through the anode to the external circuit to generate current. e - e - O + 4H+ 2H O CO Substrate Proton exchange membrane A n o d e C a t h o d e OX Re H+ H+ Fig. . Microbial Fuel Cell