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

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.