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    STUDIA AMBIENTUM - Issue no. 1 / 2011  
         
  Article:   STUDIES ON PH AND POWER OF A MICROBIAL FUEL CELL.

Authors:  MIRCEA ANTON, ANDREEA DURKOVICS, CRISTINA HALIP.
 
       
         
  Abstract:  The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is considered to be an unconventional device of electrical power generation through its ability to oxidize organic matter in a biodegradable manner and in an anaerobic way. The aim of the current paper was the monitoring of pH in three microbial fuel cells, in the anodic and cathodic chambers of the cells for an overall period of time of 190 days. At the same time power generation was monitored, being influenced by the feeding cycles of the MFCs. The majority of the fuel cells had a feeding period of 7 days at 10 ml of sodium acetate 1M. We could observe the increase in power when the anode chamber would receive a new dose of nutrient and also predict when the bacteria in the anode chamber consumed the sodium acetate by looking at the decrease in power values. Two of the anodic chambers were filled with active sludge in excess, while the remaining anodic chamber had digested concentrated sludge. The two types of sludge used in these cells came from the wastewater treatment plant from Someseni, Cluj Napoca. The three cells, named A1, A2, A3 were monitored. In our studies we used two types of solutions for the cathode chambers. Two of the MFCs, named A1 and A3, contained water with a pH of approximately 7, in which we added 1 % NaCl. The other MFC, A2 contained a type of algae Synechocystis that would be kept under artificial light for several hours every day.

Key words: microbial fuel cell, pH, power generation
 
         
     
         
         
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