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Explain the functioning of Microbial Fuel Cells. Elucidate the applications Microbial Fuel Cells in various fields. (150 words).
- A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a bio-electrochemical device that harnesses the power of respiring microbes to convert organic substrates directly into electrical energy.
- At its core, the MFC is a fuel cell, which transforms chemical energy into electricity using oxidation-reduction reactions.
- The key difference of course is in the name, microbial fuel cells rely on living biocatalysts to facilitate the movement of electrons throughout their systems instead of the traditional chemically catalyzed oxidation of fuel at the anode and reduction at the cathode.
Uses for Microbial fuel cells
- Wastewater treatment– MFC can be used as a convenient biosensor for wastewater streams. Wastewater is evaluated based on the amount of dissolved oxygen required by aerobic bacteria to break down the organic contaminants present in a body of water. The richer the wastewater stream is, the greater the current an MFC can provide.
- Sea Water Desalination– Microbial Fuel Cells are capable of producing energy but at the level where we can remove salt from a large amount of water. However, there is potential for such a process to be accomplished, by using an adapted microbial fuel cell that would make the desalination of seawater possible without external electrical sources.
- Hydrogen Production– With the help of a Microbial fuel cell, hydrogen can be produced. This process does require an external source of power to convert the bacteria into carbon dioxide and hydrogen gas.
- It is the only technology that can generate energy out of waste, without the input of external/additional energy, and this renders MFCs suitable for remote area access via the robotics route or remote power generation.
- Moreover, this emerging technology is significantly devoted to alleviating the environmental stress associated with the emission of greenhouse gases into the environment. It can act as an alternative to reduce the burden of an increased energy crisis and meet societal needs.
POSTED ON 24-09-2022 BY ADMIN
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