Homework SourseA question based on some results Im getting for a microbiolo
A question based on some results I\'m getting for a microbiology project:
I built a microbial fuel cell using lake sediment. Over the first 24 hours or so, the power generated rise to around 100mV. It then crashed to zero and continued to drop (and still is) so a negative power is displayed for over a week now.
I understand that the cells must be the death phase of the bacterial cycle after the exponential and stationary phases.
What does a negative millivolts mean when it is displayed for my microbial fuel cell? What is going on that a negative power output is produced.
As much detail as possible would be helpful, thank you!
A question based on some results I\'m getting for a microbiology project:
I built a microbial fuel cell using lake sediment. Over the first 24 hours or so, the power generated rise to around 100mV. It then crashed to zero and continued to drop (and still is) so a negative power is displayed for over a week now.
I understand that the cells must be the death phase of the bacterial cycle after the exponential and stationary phases.
What does a negative millivolts mean when it is displayed for my microbial fuel cell? What is going on that a negative power output is produced.
As much detail as possible would be helpful, thank you!
I built a microbial fuel cell using lake sediment. Over the first 24 hours or so, the power generated rise to around 100mV. It then crashed to zero and continued to drop (and still is) so a negative power is displayed for over a week now.
I understand that the cells must be the death phase of the bacterial cycle after the exponential and stationary phases.
What does a negative millivolts mean when it is displayed for my microbial fuel cell? What is going on that a negative power output is produced.
As much detail as possible would be helpful, thank you!
Solution
A microbial fuel cell is a bio-electrochemical system that drives an electric current by using bacteria and and mimicking bacterial intercations found in nature.
When multiple cells are stacked together, charge reversal can result in the reverse polarity of one or more cells and a loss of power generation. Measure the anode and cathode potential of each cell using reference electrode. Fuel starvation, resulting in a loss of bacterial activity can be one of the reasons for reverse polarity. Positive voltage generation can be restored through rapid feeding of the cell. Try to decrease the HRT of the cell. The affected cells may be short-circuited to maintain stack power production.
