MICROBIAL FUEL CELL HAVING ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTIVE FOAM ELECTRODE
A microbial fuel cell includes an anode and a cathode in at least one compartment. A wastewater inlet provides a wastewater flow to the anode and an electron receptor inlet provides oxygen or other electron-acceptor to the cathode. Pollutant-degrading microorganisms are in contact with the anode. A conduit electrically connects the anode to the cathode through an external circuit. At least the anode includes a polymeric foam substrate providing flow-through having electrically conductive material interspersed within, or electrically conductive material is attached to the polymeric foam substrate by a binder or by chemical bonds.
1 . A microbial fuel cell (MFC), comprising:
an anode and a cathode in at least one compartment;
a wastewater inlet in said compartment providing a wastewater flow to said anode;
an electron receptor inlet in said compartment providing oxygen or other electron-acceptor to said cathode;
pollutant-degrading microorganisms in contact with said anode, and a conduit for electrically connecting said anode to said cathode through an external circuit;
wherein at least said anode includes a polymeric foam substrate providing flow-through having electrically conductive material interspersed within, said electrically conductive material is attached to said polymeric foam substrate by a binder, or said electrically conductive material is attached to said polymeric foam substrate by chemical bonds.
2 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said at least one compartment comprises an anode compartment having said wastewater inlet with said anode therein and a cathode compartment having said electron receptor inlet with said cathode therein, and wherein said cathode compartment is separated from said anode compartment by a cation specific membrane.
3 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said at least one compartment consists of a single compartment, with an electrolyte between said anode and said cathode providing free exchange of cations and anions flow-through.
4 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric foam substrate comprises a hydrophobic polymeric foam.
5 . The MFC of claim 4 , wherein said hydrophobic polymeric foam comprises an open-reticulated hydrophobic polyurethane foam (PUF).
6 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric foam substrate has said electrically conductive material interspersed within.
7 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric foam substrate has said electrically conductive material attached to thereto by said binder.
8 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said polymeric foam substrate has said electrically conductive material attached thereto by said chemical bonds.
9 . The MFC of claim 7 , wherein said electrically conductive material comprises an electrically conductive polymer.
10 . The MFC of claim 1 , wherein said electrically conductive material provides a 25° C. electrical conductivity of at least 10 −1 S/cm.
11 . A microbial fuel cell (MFC), comprising:
an anode and a cathode in at least one compartment;
a wastewater inlet in said compartment providing a wastewater flow to said anode;
an electron receptor inlet in said compartment providing oxygen or other electron-acceptor to said cathode;
pollutant-degrading microorganisms in contact with said anode, and
a conduit for electrically connecting said anode to said cathode through an external circuit;
wherein at least said anode includes an open-reticulated hydrophobic polyurethane foam (PUF) substrate providing flow-through having electrically conductive material interspersed within, said electrically conductive material is attached to said PUF substrate by a binder, or said electrically conductive material is attached to said PUF substrate by chemical bonds.