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Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Development from Anaerobic Digestion System

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Anaerobic Digestion Processes

Part of the book series: Green Energy and Technology ((GREEN))

Abstract

Alternative energy technologies become more attractive as the price of energy from fossil fuels becomes more expensive and the environmental concerns from their use amount. The microbial fuel cell (MFC) is an innovative renewable energy technology that also serves to treat wastewater through the bacteria-driven oxidation of organic substrates. The electrons from oxidizing organic substrates are shuttled from the anode to the cathode, producing a current. The only byproducts of this process are respiratory waste in the form of water and carbon dioxide. MFCs operated using mixed cultures currently achieve substantially greater power densities than those with pure cultures. Community analysis of the microorganism that exists in MFCs has so far revealed a great diversity in composition. MFCs are being constructed using a variety of materials and diversity of configurations. These systems are operated under a range of conditions that include differences in pH, electrode distance, moisture content and temperature. The MFCs are believed to be a promising technology which could be implemented as wastewater treatment, recover energy production method from biomass, environment sensor and product recovery method. There are several aspects need to be considered in order to have an efficient upscale MFC.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14300, Nibong Tebal, Malaysia

    Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar & Mashitah Mat Don

  2. Division of Bioprocess, School of Industrial Technology, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 11800, Nibong Tebal, Malaysia

    Husnul Azan Tajarudin

  3. Cluster of Solid Waste Management, Engineering Campus, Universiti Sains Malaysia, 14000, Nibong Tebal, Malaysia

    Mashitah Mat Don & Husnul Azan Tajarudin

Authors
  1. Muaz Mohd Zaini Makhtar
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  2. Mashitah Mat Don
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  3. Husnul Azan Tajarudin
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Husnul Azan Tajarudin .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Halifax, United Kingdom

    Nigel Horan

  2. Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

    Abu Zahrim Yaser

  3. Faculty of Science and Natural Resources, Universiti Malaysia Sabah, Kota Kinabalu, Malaysia

    Newati Wid

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Makhtar, M.M.Z., Don, M.M., Tajarudin, H.A. (2018). Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) Development from Anaerobic Digestion System. In: Horan, N., Yaser, A., Wid, N. (eds) Anaerobic Digestion Processes. Green Energy and Technology. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8129-3_2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-8129-3_2

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Singapore

  • Print ISBN: 978-981-10-8128-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-981-10-8129-3

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