Electric Current generation in Bacterial Isolates from River Sediments using Microbial Fuel Cell

Abstract

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) represents a total approach to converting organic matter to sustainable and clean energy. This study investigated the electricity production potentials of bacteria isolated from the sediment of some Rivers at various depths using microbial fuel cells. Samples were taken from River Ala, Ogbese, and Owena at surface water, sediment surface, 50 cm, 100 cm, and 150 cm (depths) using a soil auger. Bacterial population, isolation, and identification of sediments at various depths were determined using microbiological techniques. Pure cultured, Co-cultured, and mixed bacterial isolates of some bacteria isolated from the sediment were used in the current generation. A double-chamber microbial fuel cell was constructed for these bacterial isolates and current, voltage, and resistance readings were taken for 12 days. The current and voltage generated increased in the earlier days of the experiment and decreased in the latter days while the resistance readings were high throughout the experiment. Bacillus pumilus generated the highest current of 0.47mA and Pseudomonas aeruginosa generated the highest voltage of 1.85V for the pure cultured MFC chamber. In the co-isolated and mixed cultured MFC chamber, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus pumilus generated the highest current of 1.18 mA and the highest voltage of 1.16 V. Therefore, it is shown that bacteria isolate from river can be used to generate microbial fuel cell which could be a promising technologies to generate electric power in a large scale electric power generation.