Guide

Main Module | Energy from Mud? Thank a Microbe!
3
Introduction
iNtroductioN
1. Howcanwegenerateelectricityfrommud?
2. Whataremicrobialfuelcellsandhowdotheywork?
3. What are the advantages to using a MFC as an
energysource?
Learning Objectives
1. Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are a clean energy source that can be used to
generate electricity.
2. Natural metabolic processes of certain “electrogenic” bacteria can be used to
generateelectricity.
3. Nearly all soils, sediment and water contain electrogenic bacteria.
4. Energy can be transformed from one form to another: chemicalenergy
(energy stored in the bonds of chemicals) into electricalenergy (energy of
moving electrons).
5. Conduct a scientic investigation in which certain variables are manipulated
Essential Questions
By The End of This Lesson...
Students will understand that:
• Electron-releasing (electrogenic) bacteria exist in all types of soils and
sediments worldwide
• Microbial fuel cells (MFC) generate electricity by directing electrons
given off by certain, electrogenic, bacteria through a circuit
• Microbial Fuel Cells are a clean, renewable energy source because they
are self-sustaining, do not require any external energy to operate and
do not emit any excess greenhouse gases Microbial fuel cells convert
organic matter into useable energy
• While producing electricity microbial fuel cells can also remove toxic
materials from soil, sediment and waste water which lends itself for use
in bioremediation projects to clean soil, sediment and wastewater