Open Access

Andreas Wilke, Reimar Gass

• In contrast to a conventional fuel cell the electrons in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) originate from the metabolic conversion of organic substrates by special bacteria instead of using molecular hydrogen. Recent research in our group has shown that the maximum electrical power density in a MFC correlates with the biomass concentration in batch MFC experiments. In continuous MFC systems additionallyIn contrast to a conventional fuel cell the electrons in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) originate from the metabolic conversion of organic substrates by special bacteria instead of using molecular hydrogen. Recent research in our group has shown that the maximum electrical power density in a MFC correlates with the biomass concentration in batch MFC experiments. In continuous MFC systems additionally the dilution rate D could have an effect on the specific power density. Therefore two steady state conditions are adjusted and the resulting specific power densities, and the biomass and substrate concentrations were measured. These results were implemented in a mathematical description of the continuous MFC-process and the visualization of the model is presented.…