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The Performance of a Microbial Fuel Cell Depends Strongly on Anode Geometry: A Multidimensional Modeling Study

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Abstract

A multidimensional biofilm model is developed to simulate biofilm growth on the anode of a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC). The biofilm is treated as a conductive material, and electrons produced during microbial growth are assumed to be transferred to the anode through a conductive biofilm matrix. Growth of Geobacter sulfurreducens is simulated using the Nernst–Monod kinetic model that was previously developed and later validated in experiments. By implementing a conduction-based biofilm model in two dimensions, we are able to explore the impact of anode density and arrangement on current production in a MFC.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Engineering Sciences and Applied Mathematics, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA

    Brian V. Merkey & David L. Chopp

  2. Mathematics Department, Viterbo University, La Crosse, WI, USA

    Brian V. Merkey

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  1. Brian V. Merkey
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  2. David L. Chopp
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Correspondence to Brian V. Merkey.

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Merkey, B.V., Chopp, D.L. The Performance of a Microbial Fuel Cell Depends Strongly on Anode Geometry: A Multidimensional Modeling Study. Bull Math Biol 74, 834–857 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-011-9690-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11538-011-9690-0

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