applications in WWT (Pant et al. 2010; Li et al. 2010). Both in terms of number of
researches and applications of MFCs, real interest has tremendously grown over recent
years. MFCs’ applications can be classified into four major issues: (1) WWT; (2) biological hydrogen production; (3) electricity generation; and (4) biosensor (Fig. 9.1).
2 Fuel Cells
The development of the FCs was first invented by William Grove. He invented the
first hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell in 1839 (Steele and Heinzel 2001). Typically, FC is
identified as an electrochemical device which transforms the chemical energy out of
a fuel directly into electricity by oxidizing fuel in anode compartment and reduces
oxidant in cathode part by using noble metal catalysts (Leech et al. 2012).
Every FC system consists of four main components: two electrodes (anode and
cathode), where chemical reactions (anodic and cathodic reactions) take place, and
electrical energy produces. The anode is the electrically negative terminal, while the
cathode is the electrically positive terminal. An electrolyte medium is sandwiched
between two electrodes, which separates these two electrodes and transfers charged
particles from one electrode to another. A metal catalyst has been also used to speed
up the chemical reactions happening at the electrodes’ surface (Fig. 9.2) (Winter and
Brodd 2004). Generally, in FC system, hydrogen as fuel will break down to electrons
and protons under chemical reaction. Generated electron and protons at the anode
Fig. 9.1 Schematic diagram of a DC-MFC which can be connected in a series or in parallel to
produce enough power for a specific applications [Rahimnejad and Najafpour 2018]
9 Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC): An Innovative Technology for Wastewater. . .
217
researches and applications of MFCs, real interest has tremendously grown over recent
years. MFCs’ applications can be classified into four major issues: (1) WWT; (2) biological hydrogen production; (3) electricity generation; and (4) biosensor (Fig. 9.1).
2 Fuel Cells
The development of the FCs was first invented by William Grove. He invented the
first hydrogen-oxygen fuel cell in 1839 (Steele and Heinzel 2001). Typically, FC is
identified as an electrochemical device which transforms the chemical energy out of
a fuel directly into electricity by oxidizing fuel in anode compartment and reduces
oxidant in cathode part by using noble metal catalysts (Leech et al. 2012).
Every FC system consists of four main components: two electrodes (anode and
cathode), where chemical reactions (anodic and cathodic reactions) take place, and
electrical energy produces. The anode is the electrically negative terminal, while the
cathode is the electrically positive terminal. An electrolyte medium is sandwiched
between two electrodes, which separates these two electrodes and transfers charged
particles from one electrode to another. A metal catalyst has been also used to speed
up the chemical reactions happening at the electrodes’ surface (Fig. 9.2) (Winter and
Brodd 2004). Generally, in FC system, hydrogen as fuel will break down to electrons
and protons under chemical reaction. Generated electron and protons at the anode
Fig. 9.1 Schematic diagram of a DC-MFC which can be connected in a series or in parallel to
produce enough power for a specific applications [Rahimnejad and Najafpour 2018]
9 Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC): An Innovative Technology for Wastewater. . .
217