DIY Microbial Fuel Cell (easy)

Success!!! It was an easy build, too! :D

Let me know if you need any help building one of your own. My partner on the project was Marcia Rojas if you need to cite this.

During our testing, we occasionally saw spikes of up to 6 volts while adjusting the apparatus. We were not able to stabilize the output to the extent that we were able to stabilize it to approximately 220 millivolts. I recommend experimenting with the size of the containers and the position of the air pump and electrodes.

If you wish to begin researching how to build an agar-salt bridge instead, I recommend this link to start:
Google is also a great source! :)

[PaulNylund]

I can tell you with 100% certainty that this is possible. We made ours for a science fair, as well. The whole thing cost around $25, mostly due to the cost of the containers. We used an assortment of different instructables and videos to piece together how we could possibly make it. Part of our goal was to generate much easier instructions on how to build an MFC. Therefor, I have to say that our instructable is the most straightforward that I've seen so far. Good luck! :)

[i.mss.yu.s.fr]

Hi I’m doing this for science fair, and all of this is so vague. I watched your vocal description video but you were talking a mile a minute and I could hardly register anything you were saying. How do I connect the electrodes to the wire?

[PaulNylund]

Happy to help! I'm not entirely sure what "mats" you are talking about. The steadiest current we were able to achieve was 200 mV. However, it occasionally spiked at 6 volts, but we never found out why. It spiked as we shifted the position of the cathode.

[anantsinghal]

Hi Paul! Can you please give me an example of something that this could power over a period of time? Will it be able to power a couple of bulbs?

[PaulNylund]

It is an aquarium pump. It feeds more oxygen into the water to make the fuel cell more efficient. The purpose of this project was only to demonstrate the technology.

[dixitaphukan]

Is water produced in the cathode chamber( H+ ion from anode and O2 from air forming H2O) after the treatment or you have already added water in the cathode chamber? Kindly clarify this

[zaotaku]

Hello, I’m attempting to make the microbial fuel cell that you posted on instructables and wanted to know how you made the aluminum mesh electrode. It says that you folded the mesh and then to attach copper wire but what process did you use to attach the copper wire? Thank you!

[abdulpak]

Hi i have a question how many volts does this produce on average?

[mohammedarifdeshmukh]

Hi, What material you are using to make salt bridge ?

[BobSmith-gwcv]

Hey Paul,

I was wondering if I could use a bare copper wire instead of the one which has a plastic coating. Would the differences in the output of electricity drastically change?

[frostmarkgalila]

Good day to you sir!!.. I wanna ask how did you do that electrical thing to get the voltage, I've tried to direct testing it but it won't read.. .. Please reply ASAP I badly need your help

[trsayurs]

Hey, I tested my setup, it was showing 0.320 or 0.230 when it was set to 20V.
But some water was leaking.,
is the reading correct? or its an error :((
Thanks buddy!

[frostmarkgalila]

I wanna ask sir if did you put some activated charcoal on each anode and cathode base or not... Did you only use steel mesh or what you called that wire cyclone thing?

[trsayurs]

I have a video and many pics, google plus or skype?
I collected the soil from my garden which was little wet, I added some water and mixed well, well, I have put your name in the list of sources. :) Thanks Paul.
Also, 2 ques- If I leave the apparatus kept for a week, will the cell work as it is working now? Whats the maximum period for which this will work?

Also, what are the factors which I could improve to generate more voltage?

[Harshal-dqcr]

What have you used as anode electrode please inform us
We are doing this project in a science fair

[DanceLifeMB]

With the voltage that was able to be produced, is it a possibility to power something, at least small?

[현쭈-sw]

hi! I am a student living in Korea. I want to proceed with this experiment. Can you tell me the detailed process of this experiment?

[kinojohn]

Can you use mud or wet soil from the garden instead of using the pond sludge?

[equinox]

I'm quite confused about the air pump. Does it have a wire that you attach to one of the electrodes to pump air?

[kunningli]

Hi, I'm kind of confused with what you put into the two containers... are both the anode and cathode just aluminum mesh? Because while I was searching on other websites, they mentioned something like a carbon cloth, do you need that in your model? Also, can I replace aluminum mesh with copper mesh? Would it affect the result greatly? Thank you:)