How can you improve the durability of microbial fuel cells?

1 Choose the right materials

The materials used for the anode, cathode, membrane, and wiring of MFCs can influence their durability. You want to select materials that are resistant to corrosion, fouling, biofilm formation, and mechanical stress. For example, you can use stainless steel, carbon cloth, or carbon nanotubes for the electrodes, and Nafion, cation exchange membrane, or ceramic membrane for the separator. You can also coat the materials with protective layers, such as polymers, metals, or oxides, to enhance their stability and conductivity.

2 Optimize the operating conditions

The operating conditions of MFCs, such as temperature, pH, salinity, flow rate, and loading rate, can affect their durability. You want to maintain optimal conditions that suit the specific bacteria and substrate you are using. For example, you can adjust the temperature to match the optimal growth range of the bacteria, or you can buffer the pH to prevent acidification or alkalization of the system. You can also control the salinity, flow rate, and loading rate to avoid osmotic stress, oxygen intrusion, or substrate depletion.

4 Enhance the microbial community

The microbial community of MFCs, such as the bacteria, the biofilm, and the consortia, can influence their durability. You want to enhance the microbial community to improve their activity, diversity, and stability. For example, you can inoculate the MFCs with specific bacteria or consortia that have high electrogenic potential, such as Geobacter, Shewanella, or exoelectrogenic consortia. You can also enrich or select the bacteria or consortia by applying different substrates, voltages, or pre-treatments. You can also co-culture the bacteria or consortia with other microorganisms, such as algae, fungi, or protozoa, to create symbiotic relationships.

5 Explore novel designs

The design of MFCs, such as the configuration, the shape, the size, and the integration, can affect their durability. You want to explore novel designs that can enhance their efficiency, scalability, and adaptability. For example, you can use different configurations, such as single-chamber, dual-chamber, stacked, or tubular, to optimize the mass transfer, the electron transfer, and the space utilization. You can also use different shapes, sizes, or integration, such as spherical, miniature, or hybrid, to fit different environments, applications, or purposes.

By following these tips and tricks, you can improve the durability of microbial fuel cells and unleash their full potential in bioremediation and bioenergy.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?