A Clean Energy Teaching Tool: Microbial Fuel Cells!

 

Mary Ann McLean, Eric McLeod, & Keegan Pronovost

Tested Studies in Laboratory Teaching, 2018, Volume 39

Abstract

Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) have garnered recent interest due to their potential to remediate industrial and municipal wastewater while generating sustainable electricity. MFCs use anaerobic microbes to degrade organic materials and transport the resulting electrons outside their cells to an external electron acceptor, the anode of the fuel cell. These cells can produce measurable electric currents and power a small device. That microbes can produce electricity surprises students, indicating the siloing of sciences in students’ minds. This exercise emphasizes the connections between microbiology, chemistry and ecology. The workshop will begin with a brief explanation of the construction of the cells and their uses. Participants will work together to make a MFC and measure voltage and current from prepared MFCs. Participants will explore the use of MFCs to enhance understanding of microbial ecology, microbial electrochemistry.

Keywords:  experimental design, Inquiry-based learning, microbial fuel cells, clean energy, clean electricity, microbial ecology, wastewater treatment

University of Wisconsin, Madison (2017)