Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by the action of microorganisms.[In 1931 Cohen created microbial half fuel cells that, when connected in series, were capable of producing over 35 volts, though with a current of only 2 milliamps.
In the late 1970s Allen and Bennetto studied; understood about how microbial fuel cells functioned & how fuel cells can be operated so as to make it a possible method for the generation of electricity.
A microbial fuel cell (MFC) or biological fuel cell is a bio-electrochemical system that drives a current by using bacteria and mimicking bacterial interactions found in nature.
MFCs can be grouped into two general categories: mediated and unmediated.
1> The MFCs, used a mediator: a chemical that transfers electrons from the bacteria in the cell to the anode.
2> In this MFC the bacteria typically have electrochemically active redox proteins such as cytochromes on their outer membrane that can transfer electrons directly to the anode.
Nowadays MFC is used in wastewater treatment, inturn helps in generating energy.
MFCs are attractive for power generation applications that require only low power.
However, MFCs can also work at a smaller scale. Electrodes in some cases need only be 7 μm thick by 2 cm long.Such an MFC can replace a battery. It provides a renewable form of energy and does not need to be recharged.
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