IJSRST1737121 | Received : 01 Oct 2017 | Accepted : 17 Oct 2017 | September-October-2017 [(3) 7: 635-638] © 2017 IJSRST | Volume 3 | Issue 7 | Print ISSN: 2395-6011 | Online ISSN: 2395-602X Themed Section: Science and Technology 635 A Review of Microbial Fuel Cells for Bioelectricity Generation Gagandeep Kaur Department of Electrical Engineering, I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University, Jalandhar, Punjab, India ABSTRACT In this review a brief description of microbial fuel cells technology for generation of bioelectricity has been done. The review is mainly intended to focus on standard configurations, electrode materials, membranes, substrates, microorganisms and generation of bioelectricity. Being low in power generation, MFC is a slow pacing technology but has the enormous ability to act as long term sustainable power generation source. The most spectacular feature of MFC is the utilization of organic matter which is generally supposed to be as waste. This innovative expertise has opened the way for alternative renewable energy generation. Keywords: Double Chamber, Electrode, Microbes, Substrate, Single Chamber I. INTRODUCTION The recent rapid change in energy sector is mainly due to depletion of conventional energy resources, increasing demand and global warming. The long term solution to such multiple problems is the development of inexhaustible, environmental friendly renewable energy technologies. To satisfy the world’s ever increasing energy demand, renewable energies are feasible and mostly economic. International Energy Agency report reveals that energy produced from biomass based fuels and bio waste has 10-14% contribution in meeting primary energy needs. These findings project that biomass based fuel will pay vital role in future sustainable energy source [1]. There are many technologies to produce bio-energy and the most recent technique is the Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). Many researches express that the development of this biotechnology, could supply 30% of global fuel demand with environmentally friendly manner. Potter substantiates that with decomposition of organic matter like biomass, electricity can be generated by microorganism [2-3]. Microbial fuel cells are devices that use microorganism to generate an electric current from wide range of organic substrates [4-5-6]. Micro- organisms oxidise substrates in the anode chamber to produce electrons and protons, while producing carbon- dioxide as an oxidation product. Electrons attached on the anode flow to the cathode through an external circuit. Protons migrate across the proton exchange membrane to combine with electrons to form water [7]. The completion of this process leads to generation of bioelectricity and demonstrated well with fig 1. II. MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS A. Configurations Many different configurations are possible for successful operation of MFC. MFC configurations are evaluated on the basis of output power or power density, coloumbic efficiency, cost and feasibility of scaling for higher power outputs [3-4-5-8]. In MFC configurations, a widely used and inexpensive design are two chamber H- shaped, consisting of two separate chambers connected by PEM and act as anode chamber and cathode chamber. Two chamber MFCs have wide acceptability for analyzing power generation with different electrodes, substrates and microbial communities, but typically with low power outputs [4-6-8]. This configuration suffers from low power density due to high internal resistance and mass transfer losses [3]. The distance between electrodes and the specific surface of the anode, cathode or separator are key factors on which the internal resistance of the system and power density directly depend. The practical problem posed with double chamber is during scaling up. To overcome all these operational complexities of double chamber configuration a single chamber MFC represents a genuine alternative with several advantages [5]. When using the oxygen at the cathode like in double chamber, it is not essential to place the cathode in water or in a