Production of Electricity from Acetate or Butyrate Using a Single-Chamber Microbial Fuel Cell

Hydrogen can be recovered by fermentation of organic material rich in carbohydrates, but much of the organic matter remains in the form of acetate and butyrate. An alternative to methane production from this organic matter is the direct generation of electricity in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). Electricity generation using a single-chambered MFC was examined using acetate or butyrate. Power generated with acetate (800 mg/L) (506 mW/m2 or 12.7 mW/ L) was up to 66% higher than that fed with butyrate (1000 mg/L) (305 mW/m2 or 7.6 mW/L), demonstrating that acetate is a preferred aqueous substrate for electricity generation in MFCs. Power output as a function of substrate concentration was well described by…

• NS
  National Science Foundation
• PS
  Pennsylvania State University
• FC
  Fuel Cells and Hydrogen Joint Undertaking
• HI
  Huck Institutes of the Life Sciences