Actinobacillus succinogenes which have the ability to directly transfer the electrons
derived from the metabolism of organic compounds to the electrodes’ surface.
Aforementioned types of MFCs are known as mediator-less ones. Introducing
such bacteria and construction of microorganisms which have the ability to generate
electricity from degrading organic matters have been discussed tremendously
(Logan and Regan 2006). In addition, the vast progress of MFC was in 1999, but
the main interest in MFC has been increased over recent years.
2.3 Materials for Construction of MFC
MFCs are being made by using a variety of materials and in an ever-increasing
diversity of configurations. Nowadays, various types of carbon materials such as
carbon paper, carbon cloth, graphite, and carbon black are used as an anode electrode
in MFCs because of their good conductivity, stability, and high surface area in a
microbial inoculum mixture (Qiao et al. 2007). Providing an oxygen reduction
reaction (ORR), cathode catalysts have to be coated onto the surface of cathode
electrode (e.g., Pt).
There are other supporting materials such as polypyrrole and polyaniline which
their structures significantly affect MFCs’ performance (Bezerra et al. 2008; Lee
et al. 2009). Moreover, PEM plays an effective role in MFCs, especially in
DC-MFC, because of their ability to separate anode and cathode compartments
while simplifying proton transfer from anode to cathode. In addition, using BPM
(bipolar plate membrane) which consists of CEM (cation exchange membrane) and
AEM (anion exchange membrane) has been introduced as another separator used in
these novel technologies (Kim et al. 2007a, b, c; Deng et al. 2010). Consequently,
metallic materials like graphite and stainless steel have been extensively used for
bipolar plate membrane (Rahimnejad et al. 2015).
2.3.1 Anode
Microorganisms, substrate, mediator (it’s optional), and the anode electrode as an
electron acceptor are the major components which anode part fed with them.
Microorganisms as an oxidizing agent are vital to be present in anode part. Besides,
substrates as an important source of nutrients and electron donor would be an
effective parameter in biological processes of MFCs such as their electricity production (Pant et al. 2010; Park and Zeikus 2002; Jafary et al. 2013). Due to large
surface area and supreme electric conductivity, graphite fiber brush, graphite rod,
carbon cloth, carbon paper, and reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) are some of the
mostly used carbon materials in anode (Logan et al. 2006) (Table 9.2). As it’s an
acknowledged fact, types of electrode and substrate used in anode compartment
would be able to have an increasing effect on MFCs’ performance and efficiency
which is demonstrated below.
220
M. Rahimnejad et al.
derived from the metabolism of organic compounds to the electrodes’ surface.
Aforementioned types of MFCs are known as mediator-less ones. Introducing
such bacteria and construction of microorganisms which have the ability to generate
electricity from degrading organic matters have been discussed tremendously
(Logan and Regan 2006). In addition, the vast progress of MFC was in 1999, but
the main interest in MFC has been increased over recent years.
2.3 Materials for Construction of MFC
MFCs are being made by using a variety of materials and in an ever-increasing
diversity of configurations. Nowadays, various types of carbon materials such as
carbon paper, carbon cloth, graphite, and carbon black are used as an anode electrode
in MFCs because of their good conductivity, stability, and high surface area in a
microbial inoculum mixture (Qiao et al. 2007). Providing an oxygen reduction
reaction (ORR), cathode catalysts have to be coated onto the surface of cathode
electrode (e.g., Pt).
There are other supporting materials such as polypyrrole and polyaniline which
their structures significantly affect MFCs’ performance (Bezerra et al. 2008; Lee
et al. 2009). Moreover, PEM plays an effective role in MFCs, especially in
DC-MFC, because of their ability to separate anode and cathode compartments
while simplifying proton transfer from anode to cathode. In addition, using BPM
(bipolar plate membrane) which consists of CEM (cation exchange membrane) and
AEM (anion exchange membrane) has been introduced as another separator used in
these novel technologies (Kim et al. 2007a, b, c; Deng et al. 2010). Consequently,
metallic materials like graphite and stainless steel have been extensively used for
bipolar plate membrane (Rahimnejad et al. 2015).
2.3.1 Anode
Microorganisms, substrate, mediator (it’s optional), and the anode electrode as an
electron acceptor are the major components which anode part fed with them.
Microorganisms as an oxidizing agent are vital to be present in anode part. Besides,
substrates as an important source of nutrients and electron donor would be an
effective parameter in biological processes of MFCs such as their electricity production (Pant et al. 2010; Park and Zeikus 2002; Jafary et al. 2013). Due to large
surface area and supreme electric conductivity, graphite fiber brush, graphite rod,
carbon cloth, carbon paper, and reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) are some of the
mostly used carbon materials in anode (Logan et al. 2006) (Table 9.2). As it’s an
acknowledged fact, types of electrode and substrate used in anode compartment
would be able to have an increasing effect on MFCs’ performance and efficiency
which is demonstrated below.
220
M. Rahimnejad et al.