Energy from Microbial Fuel Cells Constructed of Algae from Lake Taihu

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) generate electricity using bacteria to degrade something and produce current, which have gained much attention. Harmful algae blooms(HABs) in lakes and rivers are on the increase all over the world, which becomes a more and more serious problem in the field of environment. In this study, algae MFCs(the main bacteria of MFCs were algae) were constructed and measured. The maximum voltage and current of a single algae MFC was 1.1V and 2.0mA, respectively. The minimum voltage and current of a single algae MFC was 0.1V and 0.3mA, respectively. Anode, cathode material, kind of bacteria, cathode solution(electroyte) had some influence on power densities of algae MFCs. The algae MFCs can generate enough electricity power densities to make an self-made electric fan spinning and self-made horse race lamp shinning. The use of algae MFCs not only generated electric energy but also may control harmful algae blooms and optimiz water resource to some extent.