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Microbial fuel cell: technology for harvesting energy from biomass

  • Vaishnav Kiran

    Vaishnav Kiran received her Bachelor’s degree in 2001 from Punjab University Chandigarh, India, and Master’s degree in 2003 from GNDU Amritsar, India. She is currently pursuing her PhD on the synthesis of proton exchange membrane for microbial fuel cell from the National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Her research interest includes polymer chemistry and the emerging area of nonconventional energy sources such as microbial fuel cells. She has more than three publications in national and international journals and conferences.

    and Bharti Gaur

    Bharti Gaur was born in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, in 1966. She received her BSc degree in 1986 from St. Bedes College Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. She did her post graduation studies on organic chemistry in Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat, India, in 1988. She obtained her PhD degree from HBTI Kanpur, India, in 1993. She worked as a scientist in IIT Delhi for a period of 2 years, where she filed two patents in the area of energetic binders for solid rocket propellants. She has taught in a number of undergraduate and postgraduate institutes before joining the present assignment at NIT Hamirpur as Assistant Professor in 2010. She has more than 15 research papers in national and international journals and conferences. Her current research interests include microbial fuel cell, synthesis of proton exchange membrane for fuel cells, nanocomposites, synthesis of adhesives, and coatings.

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Published/Copyright: August 2, 2013
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Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are an emerging technology that has gained considerable attention in the recent years because they provide new opportunities for sustainable production of energy from a wide range of soluble complex organic wastes and renewable biomass. The driving force for research in this field has been the apprehension over the energy climate crisis and environment pollution. MFCs are bioreactors that can convert the chemical energy present in organic compounds into electrical energy. Presently, the literature shows that current and power yields are relatively low, but improvements in the technology can enhance these parameters as well as the efficiency of these cells. Sediment MFCs in powering low-powered electronic monitoring devices is one of the practical uses of MFCs. Additionally, MFCs can be used in implantable medical devices and wastewater treatment plants. This review discusses the factors governing the performance of these cells and the maximum power density that can be obtained using various combinations of substrates and microorganisms.


Corresponding author: Bharti Gaur, Department of Chemistry, National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, Hamirpur, HP-177005, India

About the authors

Vaishnav Kiran

Vaishnav Kiran received her Bachelor’s degree in 2001 from Punjab University Chandigarh, India, and Master’s degree in 2003 from GNDU Amritsar, India. She is currently pursuing her PhD on the synthesis of proton exchange membrane for microbial fuel cell from the National Institute of Technology Hamirpur, Himachal Pradesh, India. Her research interest includes polymer chemistry and the emerging area of nonconventional energy sources such as microbial fuel cells. She has more than three publications in national and international journals and conferences.

Bharti Gaur

Bharti Gaur was born in Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, India, in 1966. She received her BSc degree in 1986 from St. Bedes College Shimla, Himachal Pradesh, India. She did her post graduation studies on organic chemistry in Sardar Patel University, Anand, Gujarat, India, in 1988. She obtained her PhD degree from HBTI Kanpur, India, in 1993. She worked as a scientist in IIT Delhi for a period of 2 years, where she filed two patents in the area of energetic binders for solid rocket propellants. She has taught in a number of undergraduate and postgraduate institutes before joining the present assignment at NIT Hamirpur as Assistant Professor in 2010. She has more than 15 research papers in national and international journals and conferences. Her current research interests include microbial fuel cell, synthesis of proton exchange membrane for fuel cells, nanocomposites, synthesis of adhesives, and coatings.

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Received: 2013-2-4
Accepted: 2013-6-19
Published Online: 2013-08-02
Published in Print: 2013-08-01

©2013 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin Boston

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