Running an MFC Experiment

This page is intended as a comprehensive guide to completing a microbial fuel cell setup and running an experiment from start to finish.

Creating a Testing Environment

Begin 1-2 weeks prior to experiment

Constructing Fuel Cell Components

Materials (per chamber)

• 4" Polycarbonate Square Tube, 2" Outer Diameter
• 6" x 6" Polycarbonate Sheet, 1/4" Thick
• 4 Steel Fully Threaded Stud, 1/4"-20 Thread, 6" Length
• 8 Zinc Alloy Wing Flange Nut, 1/4"-20 Screw Size, 1" Wing Spread
• 1" x 1" Nafion® membrane, 0.180mm thick
• 1" x 1" Carbon felt, 0.25" thick
• 1" x 1" E-TEK ELAT™ GDE (platinum on carbon)
• 1' Titanium Grade 2 Wire .046" Diameter
• Teflon Tape, 1/4" Width
• 6" x 3" Silicone Sheet
• Silicone Glue

Setup of Digital Multimeter

Controlling the DMM with LabView™

Experiment Preparation

Begin 1 day prior to experiment

Assembling Chambers

Solutions Prep

Chamber media

• 5.844 g/L 100mM NaCl
• 15.1185 g/L 50mM PIPES (hydrogen)

7.0 pH

Phosphate buffer

• 2.918 g/L Monosodium phosphate, monohydrate
• 4.095 g/L Disodium phosphate, anhydrous
• 5.844 g/L 100mM NaCl

7.0 pH

Gas Tubing Assembly

Growing Strains

Runtime

Begin 2 hours prior to experiment

Bacteria

Fuel Cells

Injections/Variables

Clean Up