Electricity generation using a baffled microbial fuel cell convenient for stacking

To make sure that microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are more convenient to stack, a baffled single-chambered MFC with two groups of electrodes sharing only one anode chamber was designed and the performance was examined. The experiments showed that the prototype MFC generated electrical power (maximum of 133 mW/m2) while removing up to 88% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) in 91 h. Volumetric power increased as electrode area per anode compartment volume increased, indicating that the MFC with two groups of electrodes was better than that with one group. Power density as a function of wastewater concentration was modeled according to saturation kinetics, with a maximum power density of Pmax = 164 mW/m2 (fixed 100 Ω resistor) and half-saturation concentration of Ks = 259 mg/l. The hydraulic retention time (HRT) was examined as a factor influencing the power generation. When it was 15.5 h, the voltage and the power density reached the maximum 0.413 V and 108 mW/m2.