2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone mediated microbial fuel cell

Abstract

Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) are becoming more important in energy production as the world returns to alternative energy sources [1]. To ensure the efficiency of MFCs, it is necessary to increase the capacity of charge transfer from microbes to the anode, and suitable redox mediators are used for this purpose [2]. Yeast viability studies were performed to determine the effect of 2-methyl-1,4-naphthoquinone (menadione, MD) on Saccharomyces cerevisiae cells in baker's yeast. Electrochemical measurements were also performed to investigate the performance of the MFC and its effectiveness using MD. The study revealed that baker's yeast is resistant to MD at 30°C growing temperature. The maximum calculated power of the MFC designed with the anode based on the baker's yeast was 0.408 mW/m2 at 24 mV. The MFC generated a 62 mV open-circuit potential in the presence of 23 mM potassium ferricyanide and immobilized MD [3]. The results confirm that MD has good potential for MFCs, and two redox mediator systems are suitable for use in microbial fuel cells.