Effects of Methyl-blue Addition in Sewage Substrate on the Performance of Microbial Fuel Cell

Authors

  • Joseph Kihedu University of Dar es Salaam
  • John Geophrey

Abstract

Experimental study was undertaken to evaluate performance of microbial fuel cell. Without addition of methyl blue, the cell generated 1.265 V, 0.403 mA and 56.12 mW/m2 after three hours of operation. With 300 µM methyl blue in sewage anolyte, 6.7% increase in voltage, 20.5% increase in current and 28.6% increase in power density was observed. By using ash- water catholyte, addition of methyl blue in anolyte led to increase of 9.0% in voltage, 38.5% in current and 50.9% for power density. Between three and twenty four hours of continuous operation of the cell with phosphate buffer catholyte, the average voltage was 1.305 V and the average current was 0.321 mA before addition of methyl blue. Methyl blue addition led to 5.1% increase in voltage and 55.2% increase in current. For the case of ash-water catholyte with methyl blue in anolyte, led to 6.2% increase in voltage and 59.1% increase in current.

Keywords: Methyl-blue, Microbial fuel cell, Phosphate buffer, Sewage anolyte

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Published

2019-01-30