A biofilm enhanced miniature microbial fuel cell using Shewanella oneidensis DSP10 and oxygen reduction cathodes

Authors

• Justin C. Biffinger, US Naval Research LaboratoryFollow
• Jeremy Pietron, Naval Research Laboratory
• Ricky Ray, Naval Research Laboratory
• Brenda J. Little, Naval Research LaboratoryFollow
• Bradley R. Ringeisen, Naval Research LaboratoryFollow

Date of this Version

2007

Comments

Published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics 22 (2007) 1672–1679; doi:10.1016/j.bios.2006.07.027

Abstract

Aminiature-microbial fuel cell (mini-MFC, chamber volume: 1.2 mL)was used to monitor biofilm development from a pure culture of Shewanella oneidensis DSP10 on graphite felt (GF) under minimal nutrient conditions. ESEM evidence of biofilm formation on GF is supported by substantial power density (per device cross-section) from the mini-MFC when using an acellular minimal media anolyte (1500mW/m²). These experiments demonstrate that power density per volume for a biofilm flow reactor MFC should be calculated using the anode chamber volume alone (250 W/m³), rather than with the full anolyte volume. Two oxygen reduction cathodes (uncoated GF or a Pt/vulcanized carbon coating on GF) were also compared to a cathode using uncoated GF and a 50mM ferricyanide catholyte solution. The Pt/C-GF (2–4% Pt by mass) electrodes with liquid cultures of DSP10 produced one order of magnitude larger power density (150 W/m³) than bare graphite felt (12 W/m³) in this design. These advances are some of the required modifications to enable the mini-MFC to be used in real-time, long-term environmental power generating situations.