Electricity generation from a floating microbial fuel cell

A floating microbial fuel cell (FMFC) has been designed and its performance has been evaluated for 153 days. The power output gradually increased to a maximum value of 390 mW/m3 at 125 days. The polarization resistance of the anode ( R p a ) changed with operating time reaching a minimum value at 125 days, while the polarization resistance of the cathode ( R p c ) was relatively constant and much smaller than R p a . It has been demonstrated that the observed changes of the internal resistance (Rint) and the maximum power (Pmax) with exposure time were mainly due to the changes of R p a . Compared with sediment MFCs for which the anode is embedded in marine or river sediments, the application of the FMFC, which could be installed in a buoy, is not limited by the depth of the ocean. The FMFC has the potential to supply electricity to low-power consuming electronic devices at remote locations.