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Type: 
Journal
Description: 
The anode of a microbial fuel cell (MFC) was formed on a graphite electrode and immobilized Gluconobacter oxydans VKM-1280 bacterial cells. Immobilization was performed in chitosan, poly (vinyl alcohol) or N-vinylpyrrolidone-modified poly (vinyl alcohol). Ethanol was used as substrate. The anode was modified using multiwalled carbon nanotubes. The aim of the modification was to create a conductive network between cell lipid membranes, containing exposed pyrroloquinoline quinone (PQQ)-dependent alcoholdehydrogenases, and the electrode to facilitate electron transfer in the system. The bioelectrochemical characteristics of modified anodes at various cell/polymer ratios were assessed via current density, power density, polarization curves and impedance spectres. Microbial fuel cells based on chitosan at a matrix/cell volume ratio of 5: 1 produced maximal power characteristics of the system (8.3 μW/cm 2) at a minimal resistance (1111 Ohm cm 2). Modification of the anode by multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) led to a slight decrease of internal resistance (down to 1078 Ohm cm 2) and to an increase of generated power density up to 10.6 μW/cm 2. We explored the possibility of accumulating electric energy from an MFC on a 6800-μF capacitor via a boost converter. Generated voltage was increased from 0.3 V up to 3.2 V. Accumulated energy was used to power a Clark-type biosensor and a Bluetooth transmitter with three sensors, a miniature electric motor and a light-emitting diode. View Full-Text
Publisher: 
Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute
Publication date: 
1 Dec 2018
Authors: 

Yulia Plekhanova, Sergei Tarasov, Vladimir Kolesov, Iren Kuznetsova, Maria Signore, Fabio Quaranta, Anatoly Reshetilov

Biblio References: 
Volume: 8 Issue: 4 Pages: 99
Origin: 
Membranes