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.