Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
7231007 | Biosensors and Bioelectronics | 2016 | 7 Pages |
Abstract
This study reports the fabrication of a microfluidic microbial fuel cell (MFC) using nickel as a novel alternative for conventional electrodes and a non-phatogenic strain of Escherichia coli as the biocatalyst. The feasibility of a microfluidic MFC as an efficient power generator for production of bioelectricity from glucose and urea as organic substrates in human blood and urine for implantable medical devices (IMDs) was investigated. A maximum open circuit potential of 459 mV was achieved for the batch-fed microfluidic MFC. During continuous mode operation, a maximum power density of 104 W mâ3 was obtained with nutrient broth. For the glucose-fed microfluidic MFC, the maximum power density of 5.2 μW cmâ2 obtained in this study is significantly greater than the power densities reported previously for microsized MFCs and glucose fuel cells. The maximum power density of 14 W mâ3 obtained using urea indicates the successful performance of a microfluidic MFC using human excreta. It features high power density, self-regeneration, waste management and a low production cost (<$1), which suggest it as a promising alternative to conventional power supplies for IMDs. The performance of the microfluidic MFC as a power supply was characterized based on polarization behavior and cell potential in different substrates, operational modes, and concentrations.
Related Topics
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Authors
Mohammad Mahdi Mardanpour, Soheila Yaghmaei,