Harvesting Bioelectricity from Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) Powered by Electroactive Microbes

Authors

  • Yohanna Anisa Indriyani IPB University
  • Iman Rusmana IPB University
  • Syaiful Anwar IPB University
  • Gunawan Djajakirana IPB University
  • Dwi Andreas Santosa IPB University

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.23960/jtep-l.v12i3.583-596

Abstract

The application of microbial fuel cells is still facing some challenges due to its low power output and high internal resistance. It is desirable to obtain a stable and consistent power output from an MFC to support practical real-world applications. Five electroactive bacteria (isolate LGf1, LGf11, LGf15, LGf20, and LGf22) isolated from the sediment of Waduk Saguling were exploited as the potential anodic biocatalyst for MFC, and the performance of these MFCs were studied in terms of voltage generation (open and close circuit), power density and the losses (polarization technique), and efficiencies (coulombic and energy). MFC biocatalyst by isolate LGf11 performed the best electrochemical performances, including highest OCV (open circuit voltage) value (804 mV) and power output (0.043 W/m2), lowest ohmic resistance (475 ), and highest coulombic efficiency (75.79%) and energy efficiency (88.36%) among all anodic biocatalysts. Nevertheless, all the five isolates were potential to be exploited as active biocatalyst for MFC due to their high OCV values and the stability of voltage generations, both in open circuit and close circuit mode. The development of system configuration and the use of more suitable substrate for different electroactive microbes in order to harvest more power output was recommended for further study. Utilization of these potential microbes for other applications in MFC (such as wastewater treatment etc.) was also suggested for further research.

 

Keywords: Bio-electrochemical system, Biofuel, Efficiency, Electro-microbiology, Power output

Author Biographies

  • Yohanna Anisa Indriyani, IPB University
    Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University
  • Iman Rusmana, IPB University
    Department of Biology, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, IPB University
  • Syaiful Anwar, IPB University
    Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University
  • Gunawan Djajakirana, IPB University
    Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University
  • Dwi Andreas Santosa, IPB University

    Department of Soil Science and Land Resource, Faculty of Agriculture, IPB University

    Biotechnology Center, Research and Community Empowerment Institute, IPB University

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Published

2023-07-20

Issue

Vol. 12 No. 3 (2023): September 2023

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