PERFORMANCE OF A SINGLE CHAMBER SOIL MICROBIAL FUEL CELL ACROSS VARIED ENTERNAL LOADS FOR POWER GENERATION

Abstract

The soil is beginning to receive attention is suitable inocultumes for Microbial Fuel Cells (MFC) designed for emediation and for electricity generation because of its righe microbial load. However, not wc has been done in this aspect beyond laboratory based experiment. This study is aimed ar generating electricity from agricultural soil utilizing the microorganisms already present and the soil nutrients as the sole substrates and to investigate the performance of the soil Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) across varied external loads. The study used the mud warr MFC et imoculared with mud prepared from topsoil, collected from a garden where crops have been cultivated over the years. The electrodes (amode and cathode 7cm diameter each), made of carbon felt material with conducting wires made of graphite, were housed in the same chamber and placed 4 con apart. Voltage drop across seven external resistances 46709, 2190 0.1000 Q. 4700 2200, 1000 and 47 were measured every 24 hours, with a digital multimeter, for 40 days. The aim open circuit voltage from this study was 731 . whereas the cucimum power density was 65.40 mar" at a current density of 190.7 mm The optimum performance of the MFC was achieved with the 470 Q which is an indication that the internal resistance of the soil MFC of this present study is close to 470 This study revealed that MFCs constructed from agricultural topsoil are capable of producing electrical power continuously, across different external loads, without addition of any substrafe