World Applied Sciences Journal 14 (Special Issue of Food and Environment): 91-95, 2011 ISSN 1818-4952 © IDOSI Publications, 2011 Coresponding Author: Maryam Otadi, Department of Chemical Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran. 91 Microbial Fuel Cell Production with Alga Maryam Otadi, Sina Poormohamadian, Fatemeh Zabihi and Mahdi Goharrokhi 1 2 3 4 Department of Chemical Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 1 Department of Petroleum, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 2 Department of Chemical Engineering, Ayatollah Amoli Branch, Islamic Azad University, Amol, Iran 3 Department of Chemical Engineering, South Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran 4 Abstract: Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) is a bioelectrical and chemical system in which bacteria is utilized for electricity generation by the organic material. The basis of MFCs applications are the same as conventional fuel cells applications. However the catalysis are substituted by the microorganisms and enzymes in MFCs. different microorganisms have been applied in the fuel cells based on biological reaction rates. Electrical flow and fuel cell efficiency have been affected by biological reaction rates. At the current study, a sort of alga existing in fresh waters of Iran is used as the model microorganism. 310 mg of this type of algae generates a continual electricity flow equal to 0.4V in about 160 min at the optimal conditions (the optimum conditions are: membrane length of 10 cm and copper electrodes with sectional area of the Electrode of 3 mm ). 2 Key words: MFC Alga Membrane length Electrode sectional area INTRODUCTION Several bacteria specious including pili on their Microbial Fuel Cells applications have been recently without intermediates [5]. Taking into considering the developed in industrial different fields. Type of utilizing novelty of MFCs technology, efficiency dependence on microorganism depends on the type of MFCs. the operational factors such as the sort of bacteria and For instance MFCs can be applied for supplementary ionic membrane and the operational temperature, are not energy production during waste water treatment fully understood [7,8]. In direct MFCs, bacteria often have (superfluous elements consumption by water bacteria active electrochemical enzymes as sythochromes on their specious) [1,2]. MFC technology is a clean and external membrane that transfer the electrons to external reproducible way for energy production. Actually MFC materials [7]. contamination is less than the standard acceptable The basic reaction takes place at the anode amount [1,3]. A MFC also use energy much more compartments, where the carbohydrates the fuels effectively than the standard combustion cells. significant role accompanied by microorganisms. On the MFCs efficiency is theoretically more than 50% [1]. anode part, a series of anaerobe processes are carried out Any organic material can be a nourishing source for that result in electron production [1,9]. These reactions MFCs. Micro-organisms generate electrical flow by are divided into two categories: glucose reactions with oxidizing the organic material and no pressure need in water and respiration reactions by alga as a green plant MFCs like other Fuel cells, this is the most important [8, 10]. advantage of MFCs [4]. According to the following equation, reaction of a These cells include cathodic and anodic bodies. hydrocarbon and water in the anode part, releases The fuel is oxidized by the micro-organisms and produces electron and proton, at the anaerobe conditions: electron and proton [5,6]. Electrons are transferred to the cathodic body through an external circuit and proton C1 H O + 13H O 12CO + 48H+ + 48e- passes through the membrane. Electrons and protons are combined with oxygen on the cathodic body to form Then, the released protons diffuse into the water [4]. cathode part across the membrane, while the electrons are external membrane can transfer their released electrons 2 22 11 2 2