EFFECT OF POROSITY ON OCV AND WASTEWATER TREATMENT EFFICIENCY OF A CLAY PARTITIONED ION-EXCHANGE DOUBLE-CHAMBER MICROBIAL FUEL CELL

A microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that converts biochemical energy to electrical energy by the catalytic reaction of microorganisms. Two membraneless clay partitions were fabricated using local materials (Mfensi clay and alumina). Two double chambered MFCs were constructed using the clay partitions and operated under the same conditions ( ambient temperature and pressure, pH, electrode size, substrate type and COD of 7200 mg/L) for 18 days. T he performances of the cells were then compared in terms of wastewater treatment, power generation and coulombic efficiency. The maximum open circuit voltage (OCV) obtained for cell 1 and 2 were 1173.0 mV and 1333.0 mV respectively.