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Make a Microbial
Fuel Cell
We get a lot of questions about how to make MFCs and what materials we
use. We have put together a series of handouts and information files
that you may find useful, depending on your level of familiarity with
MFCs.
Handouts prepared for general public on MFCs and MECs
Information sheets for making MFCs and media,
and frequently asked questions
Videos on MFCs and MECs
Examples of student MFC projects (universities and public schools):
Guide to making a microbial fuel cell prepared by Karl Shellenberger, Ph.D. student, The Pennsylvania State University
Examples of student MFC projects (universities and public schools):
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Gene Snider- made a two chamber MFC
with a salt bridge made using food grade unflavored gelatin,
over the counter anaerobic septic tank treatment as the
innoculum, and sugar and shredded paper as the fuels (6-16-09).
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Julie Paone (student at Manhasset
High School, NY) constructed a biofuel cell (not a mediatorless
cell) using a dialysis bag containing the anode and a methylene
blue mediator, and a ferricyanide cathode (4-24-09).
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Aaron Ong (7th grade student at
Terman Middle School) built an MFC for his science fair project.
He used two 0.5 L water bottles attached back to back and
connected them with a salt bridge (made of agar). The source of
organic matter was rotten vegetables and diluted Dr. Pepper. The
total cost of the system was $2. (11-1-08)
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Ian Bennett (7th grade, La Entrada School) for the local science fair build an MFC. His project was "Generating Electricity From Wastewater Using A Microbial Fuel Cell". It had a a very simple design, but generated a 152.45 mV (2008)
Abstract
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Abbie Groff (Conastoga Valley High School). Abbie won the Lancaster county grand prize for her project."Identification of Benthic Microbes Utilizing Bioremediation and Microbial Fuel Cells".
Newspaper release (295 kb).
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Sikandar Porter-Gill (Gaithersburg High School).
Harvesting Energy from Wastewater in a 2-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell (442 kb).
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Eric A. Zielke (Humboldt State University)
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Khanik Bohra, who is from Guwahati, India, sent a picture of his home-made MFC. See below (4-4-08).
Have you built one?
Send us your photos, website, or other information (email:
blogan@psu.edu).
Pictures of student projects:
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Gene Snider's two chamber
MFC with a salt bridge
http://www.instructables.com/id/Make-a-Microbial-Fuel-Cell-MFC-Part-II/ |
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Biofuel cell by
Julie Paone that uses a methylene blue mediator. |
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MFC designed by Aaron Ong, which has graphite from pencils for
both of the electrodes.
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2-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell design with membrane chamber by Sikandar
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Ian Bennet's MFC with volt meter
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Two of Ian Bennett's MFCs, connected with salt bridges.
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Two chamber MFC by Khanik
Bohra (from India) |
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Abbie
Groff's Microbial Fuel Cell project (PA, USA) |
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