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Iwona Gajda SELF SUSTAINABLE CATHODES FOR MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) Research Group. Energy- Finding new solutions. Energy is everywhere. Energy “locked” in organic matter may be liberated by the use of microorganisms - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Iwona Gajda
SELF SUSTAINABLE CATHODES FOR MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS
Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs)
Research Group
ENERGY- FINDING NEW SOLUTIONS
Energy is everywhere Energy “locked” in organic matter may be
liberated by the use of microorganisms
Michael C. Potter 1911 – First MFCGenerated power from cultures of Escherichia coli
MFC Technology is already 100 years old!
Major improvements in the technology in the last 10 years
........but why microbes?Pharmaceuticals
Wastewater treatmentDecomposing
Fermentation
What is a Microbial Fuel Cell?
WASTE TREATMENT+
ENERGY PRODUCTION
Microorganisms are only catalystsNot a source of electrons
Microorganisms can drive electrons to the anode by oxidising the organic matter
Robotics & Microbiology?
Gastrobot (Chew-chew) train invented by S. Wilkinson (University of South Florida) 2001
BRL’s autonomous robots:
Both developed by researchers at Bristol Robotics Laboratory:Dr I.Ieropoulos, Prof J. Greenman, Prof C.Melhuish and I.Horsfield
Ecobot I (2001) performs phototaxis
Ecobot II (2003) performs phototaxis, sensing, communication
The Ecobots do not employ any other form of conventional power supply and do not require any form of initial charging from an external source
Ecobot III
Ecobot III (2008) -48 small-scale Microbial Fuel Cells, world's first robot to exhibit true self-sustainability
Possible applications:
Though this technology is quite promising as a source of renewable energy, it will be some time before large-scale, highly efficient MFCs enter the commercial scene.
Powering underwater monitoring devices Power supply to remote sensors
Wastewater treatment
Powering small everyday use
devices- mobile phones
Powering autonomous
robots
MFC research in Bristol Robotics Laboratory
ANODE CATHODE
Before AfterResearch based on:
- Anode improvement- Cathode improvement- Scalability and stacks
SLUDGE
Aims and objectivesTo develop:
Self sustainableCost efficientBetter performing
CATHODE
Improvement of:
DesignElectrode materialsMethodology
Cathode needs an effective catalyst for oxygen reduction
Platinum .....expensive
Ferricyanide .....non sustainable and toxic
Photosynthetic Organisms: AlgaeCyanobacteria
Produce Oxygen
Use CO2 and light
Self sustainable
Why algae? 75% world’s oxygen is produced by
marine algae Naturally occurring Fast grown Already used as biofuel source Used also in wastewater treatment
Materials and Methods
Abiotic cathode Biotic cathode
Biocathode types
Photoreactors
Comparison between abiotic and biotic (algal) cathodes
ABIOTIC CATHODE
BIOCATHODES
Results: Biotic cathodes outperform abiotic (water
based) cathodes
Photosynthethic organisms multiply creating more biomass that might be used as a substrate!
Future research
Comparison between pure and mixed culture algae and cyanobacteria
Various metals as current collectors
Different design, stacking
Thank You
MFC Team:Dr Ioannis IeropoulosProf John GreenmanProf Chris Melhuish
