Optimization of microbial fuel cell (MFC) operated with waste water as substrate

In the present study bioelectricity generation from waste water was evaluated in a double chambered microbial fuel cell (MFC). Waste water and potassium permanganate solution (0.3%) was loaded in the anodic and the cathodic chamber respectively. The performance of MFC was studied with two different electrodes (aluminum and carbon as anodes and copper as cathode). Current and voltage measurements were carried out using Keithley source meter (2420) and multimeter respectively. The Voltammetric analysis was done to study the anodic oxidation rate. The resistance of the system was found to be low (0.466 Ω for the aluminum anode and 0.673 Ω carbon anode) which were deduced from the power density curves. The system showed a COD removal of 77% over a period of a week ofk operation.