Guide

Main Module | Energy from Mud? Thank a Microbe!
17
Background
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Power generation from an MFC will continue as
long as there are nutrients readily available. Since
mud is full of complex sugars and other nutrients
from decaying plant and animal matter that have
accumulated over millions of years, there is plenty
of food for the microbes and thus the MudWatt can
continue to produce power for monthstoyears!
QuickRecap!
MudWatt Microbial Fuel Cell Operation
1. Microbes at the bottom of the MudWatt take in the nutrients in the soil
and break them down without oxygen (anaerobic respiration).
2. Electrogenic bacteria give off electrons to an external electron
acceptor when they respire.
3. Electrogenic microbes form a biolm on the anode (an electron
acceptor) and deposit their electrons onto it.
4. Electrons ow through the wire from the anode to the cathode.
5. Electrons combine with oxygen and hydrogen near the cathode to
form water.
6. The ow of electrons from the anode to the cathode and back into the
soil completes a circuit and generates an electrical current.