Examination of Zinc Electrode Performance in Microbial Fuel Cells

Year 2017, Volume: 30 Issue: 4, 395 - 402, 11.12.2017

Nurettin Çek

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells are one
of the systems of renewable and clean energy generating. One of the most
important things in microbial fuel cells is bacterial growth. Composts rich in
organic substances are commonly used in microbial fuel cells because they
positively affect bacterial growth. In addition, in recent years, studies on
the use of non-inert (metal etc.) electrodes have increased; while inert
(usually carbon based etc.) electrodes are generally used in microbial fuel
cells. The objective of this study is to evaluate zinc anode performance by
using microbial fuel cells mixed with compost. Experiments were carried out in microbial
fuel cell equipped with zinc anode electrode and graphite cathode electrode.
According to experiments, zinc is a suitable anode electrode of that utilizes
electrochemical and biochemical reactions and therefore the microbial fuel cell
produces high power density (5.33 W/m²). Zinc, which has a good
electrochemical and biochemical performance, undergoes corrosion. But,
according to measurements and calculations made on the basis of literature the
anode zinc electrode used in this study is located in the category of
corrosion-resistant material. The zinc anode for microbial fuel cells is the
promising electrode technology. The experiments; the microbial fuel cell in this
study, electrolyte, electrode, biofuel source, biocatalyst, etc. shows that the
parameters work in harmony.

Keywords

Microbial fuel cell, Bacteria, Organic materials, Zinc electrode, Renewable energy

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