Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial Fuel Cells

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are bioelectrochemical devices that generate electricity by exploiting the metabolic processes of electrogenic bacteria. These systems provide a renewable energy source and serve as an innovative method for treating organic waste, such as wastewater.A typical MFC consists of two chambers: an anoxic (oxygen-free) compartment that houses the bacteria and an oxic (oxygen-rich) compartment that contains oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor. Many MFCs use proton...

Batteries and Fuel Cells

Batteries and Fuel Cells

A battery is a galvanic cell that is used as a source of electrical power for specific applications. Modern batteries exist in a multitude of forms to accommodate various applications, from tiny button batteries such as those that power wristwatches to the very large batteries used to supply backup energy to municipal power grids. Some batteries are designed for single-use applications and cannot be recharged (primary cells), while others are based on conveniently reversible cell reactions that...

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Environmental Applications of Microorganisms

Microorganisms play a pivotal role in maintaining ecosystem balance by recycling essential elements such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus, as well as supporting processes like bioremediation, wastewater treatment, and biofuel production.Microbes in Elemental CyclesIn the carbon cycle, microorganisms decompose organic matter, releasing carbon dioxide via aerobic respiration. This carbon dioxide is subsequently used by photosynthetic organisms to synthesize organic compounds, closing the...

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial Wastewater Treatment

Microbial communities in aquatic ecosystems play a key role in the natural breakdown of contaminants introduced through domestic and industrial effluents. Acting as biological catalysts, these microbes change and mineralize a wide range of organic and inorganic pollutants under different redox conditions.In oxygen-rich surface waters, aerobic heterotrophs lead organic matter breakdown, using oxygen as the terminal electron acceptor to efficiently oxidize substrates to carbon dioxide and water.

Microbial Mats

Microbial Mats

Microbial communities forming biofilms and mats represent complex, spatially structured ecosystems where metabolic processes are stratified according to light, oxygen, and nutrient gradients. Biofilms are initial colonization stages, only a few millimeters thick, while mature microbial mats can reach centimeter-scale thickness and display intricate vertical organization. Their structural and functional heterogeneity allows microorganisms to occupy distinct ecological niches within a few...

Microbes and Methanogenesis

Microbes and Methanogenesis

Methanogenesis is a critical microbial process in anaerobic ecosystems responsible for the biological production of methane, a potent greenhouse gas and valuable biofuel. This metabolic pathway is primarily facilitated by methanogenic archaea, which thrive in anoxic environments such as wetlands, sediments, and animal gastrointestinal tracts. The absence of oxygen in these habitats prevents aerobic respiration, thereby favoring alternative biochemical pathways for organic matter degradation.In...

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

A Cullin1-based SCF E3 ubiquitin ligase targets the InR/PI3K/TOR pathway to regulate neuronal pruning.

PLoS biology·2013

Same author

Recommendations for the management of septic arthritis after ACL reconstruction.

Knee surgery, sports traumatology, arthroscopy : official journal of the ESSKA·2013

Same author

Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 promotes oxidative-stress-induced liver cell death via suppressing farnesoid X receptor α.

Molecular and cellular biology·2013

Same author

[Clinical significance of changes in T wave and ST segment amplitudes on electrocardiogram from supine to standing position among children with unexplained chest tightness or pain in resting stage].

Zhongguo dang dai er ke za zhi = Chinese journal of contemporary pediatrics·2013

Same author

Biomimetic synthesis of equisetin and (+)-fusarisetin A.

Chemistry (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany)·2013

Same author

ERG Protein Expression Is of Limited Prognostic Value in Men with Localized Prostate Cancer.

ISRN urology·2013

Same journal

[Analysis of O<sub>3</sub> and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Mass Concentration Characteristics and Differences Between the Urban and Control Sites in Guangzhou Based on Explainable Machine Learning].

Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue·2026

Same journal

[Pollution Characteristics of Heavy Metals in Soil-rice System in Geological High Background Area and Related Risk Evaluation].

Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue·2026

Same journal

[Translocation Influence and Immobilization Mechanisms of Iron-containing Alkaline Materials on Cd and As in Paddy Soil-rice Systems Combined with Water Management].

Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue·2026

Same journal

[Hyperspectral Inversion Analysis of Heavy Metal Content in Soil of Lead-Zinc-Copper Mining Area Based on Machine Learning].

Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue·2026

Same journal

[Dynamic Variation Characteristics of Hydrolases and Oxidases in Black Soils Under Increasing Hydrothermal Gradients Across Climate Zones].

Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue·2026

Same journal

[Effects of Biochar on the Growth of <i>Chrysanthemum morifolium</i> and the Structure and Function of Soil Bacterial Communities under Microplastic Pollution].

Huan jing ke xue= Huanjing kexue·2026

See all related articles

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Published on: December 29, 2013

[Electricity generation using the packing-type microbial fuel cells].

Peng Liang¹, Ming-zhi Fan, Xiao-xin Cao

¹Environmental Simulation and Pollution Control State Key Joint Laboratory, Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. liangpeng@tsinghua.edu.cn

Huan Jing Ke Xue= Huanjing Kexue

|July 11, 2008

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Packing-type microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using carbon felt offer improved performance. This design reduces startup time and increases power density compared to flat-type MFCs, demonstrating enhanced energy generation potential.

More Related Videos

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Published on: July 24, 2018

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Published on: June 1, 2018

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Jul 3, 2026

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Waste Water Derived Electroactive Microbial Biofilms: Growth, Maintenance, and Basic Characterization

Published on: December 29, 2013

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Self-standing Electrochemical Set-up to Enrich Anode-respiring Bacteria On-site

Published on: July 24, 2018

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Characterizing Electron Transport through Living Biofilms

Published on: June 1, 2018

Area of Science:

Electrochemistry
Environmental Engineering
Biotechnology

Context:

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are devices that convert chemical energy from organic matter into electrical energy using microorganisms.
Traditional flat-type MFCs face limitations in power density and startup time.
Optimizing electrode materials and cell architecture is crucial for enhancing MFC efficiency.

Purpose:

To investigate the performance of packing-type microbial fuel cells (MFCs) using granular graphite and carbon felt as packing materials.
To compare the efficiency of packing-type MFCs with traditional flat-type MFCs.
To evaluate the impact of material choice and operational parameters on MFC power generation.

Summary:

Packing-type MFCs were constructed with granular graphite and carbon felt, exhibiting a faster startup time (1 day) than flat-type MFCs.
MFCs utilizing carbon felt achieved a maximal power density (Pm) of 1502 mW/m2 (37.6 W/m3), outperforming those with granular graphite.
Sintering carbon felt with carbon paper enhanced conductivity, leading to reduced resistance, increased current density, and significantly higher Pm (2426 mW/m2 or 60.7 W/m3) compared to flat-type MFCs.

Impact:

The packing-type MFC design demonstrates a significant improvement in power density and a reduction in area-specific resistance.
This advancement in MFC technology holds potential for more efficient bioelectrochemical energy harvesting.
Further research into flow rate optimization is necessary to maximize power generation in packing-type MFCs.