Generation of Electricity from Biological Source

Abstract

Rapid consumption of renewable energy resources has led to development of an alternative source of energy. Fuel cell technology is a reliable and sustainable source of energy which was developed. Microbial fuel cell is a type which uses active micro-organisms as catalysts for production of electricity. The micro-organisms degrade the organic substrate to release protons and electrons which generate a potential difference across the cell. Our study focused on the generation of electricity from human urine using microbial fuel cell system. Specific bacteria were used as inoculum at anaerobic anode chamber and salt solution was supplied at aerobic cathode. The chambers were connected using salt bridge which would facilitate ion transfer. This made the system cost effective. The potential difference generated was measured using digital multi-meter.