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Auto-feeding microbial fuel cell inspired by transpiration of plants

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  • Wu, Shiqiang
  • Patil, Sunil A.
  • Chen, Shuiliang

Abstract

Inspired by the transpiration process in plants, we report an auto-feeding microbial fuel cell (AF-MFC), in which the fuel (substrate solution) is fed automatically through a process similar to transpiration in natural plants without using any external equipment and applying extra power. The AF-MFC consisted of a bioanode, an air–cathode, hydrogel electrolyte, and a glass capillary feeding channel. The auto-feeding process was realized by the fact that evaporative loss of water from the air–cathode of the AF-MFC reduces pressure in the hydrogel electrolyte; which, in turn, pulls substrate solution to the AF-MFC to maintain hydration of the hydrogel electrolyte. The AF-MFC was able to generate a stable voltage of 0.55 V across a 1000 Ω resistor and a maximum power density of 1182 ± 115 mW m−2 (normalized to the projected area of air–cathode) and 295.5 ± 28.8 W m−3 (normalized to the total volume of the MFC). This study thus provides a new way to fabricate self-sustaining portable MFCs and greatly simplifies the feeding system of the MFCs.

Suggested Citation

  • Wu, Shiqiang & Patil, Sunil A. & Chen, Shuiliang, 2018. "Auto-feeding microbial fuel cell inspired by transpiration of plants," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 225(C), pages 934-939.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:appene:v:225:y:2018:i:c:p:934-939
    DOI: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2018.05.080
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Wang, Zhongli & Zhang, Baogang & Jiang, Yufeng & Li, Yunlong & He, Chao, 2018. "Spontaneous thallium (I) oxidation with electricity generation in single-chamber microbial fuel cells," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 209(C), pages 33-42.
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    3. Pandey, Prashant & Shinde, Vikas N. & Deopurkar, Rajendra L. & Kale, Sharad P. & Patil, Sunil A. & Pant, Deepak, 2016. "Recent advances in the use of different substrates in microbial fuel cells toward wastewater treatment and simultaneous energy recovery," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 168(C), pages 706-723.
    4. Tobias D. Wheeler & Abraham D. Stroock, 2008. "The transpiration of water at negative pressures in a synthetic tree," Nature, Nature, vol. 455(7210), pages 208-212, September.
    5. Jannelli, Nicole & Anna Nastro, Rosa & Cigolotti, Viviana & Minutillo, Mariagiovanna & Falcucci, Giacomo, 2017. "Low pH, high salinity: Too much for microbial fuel cells?," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 192(C), pages 543-550.
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    1. Jiang, Minhua & Xu, Tao & Chen, Shuiliang, 2020. "A mechanical rechargeable small-size microbial fuel cell with long-term and stable power output," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 260(C).

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