Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

Vol 11, Issue 1, 2009; Page No.(117-122 )

IMPACT OF METHYLENE BLUE ON POWER OUTPUT IN A FUEL CELL USING KLUYVEROMYCES WICKERHAMH AS BIOCATALYST

M. VIJAY AND R.M. MEYYAPPAN

Abstract

Methylene blue (MB), an exogenous mediator was utilized in microbial fuel cell (MFC) consuming glucose, in an objective to study its efficiency during electricity generation. A MFC was constructed in which Kluyveromyces wickerhamii (yeast); methylene blue and potassium ferricyanide were employed. In this study, the variation of open circuit potential (OCP) with time was recorded. The fuel cell was operated with different resistances (100Q, 500Q & 1000Q) and the results show that lower the resistance, higher the current output. Further, it was observed that increase in power output was obtained in the case of mediator MFC, when compared to mediatorless MFC. From the polarization curves, it is very clear that maximum power density of 1.482 x 10-2 W/m2 and 0.182 x 10-2 W/m2is observed for mediator and mediatorless MFC, confirming that the addition of mediator will enhance the power output. Thus, the impact of electronophore (ie) methylene blue on the performance of MFC in generating electric current was investigated.

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