RECENT DEVELOPMENTS IN MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS

Microbial fuel cells (MFC) are an environmental friendly energy conservative technology that not only helps in generating power from waste but also in remediating the environmental pollution. This paper reviews some technological aspects and developments of microbial fuel cells. A brief history of abiotic to biological fuel cells and subsequently, microbial fuel cells is presented. Secondly, the development of the concept of microbial fuel cell into a wider range of derivative technologies, called bio electrochemical systems, is described by introducing briefly microbial electrolysis cells, microbial desalination cells and microbial electro synthesis cells. The focus is then shifted to electroactive biofilms and electron transfer mechanisms involved with solid electrodes. Carbonaceous and metallic anode materials are then introduced, followed by the discussion on electro catalysis of the oxygen reduction reaction and its behavior in neutral media. Cathode catalysts based on carbonaceous, platinum-group metal and platinum-group-metal-free materials are presented, along with membrane materials with a view to future directions.