Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) use either enzymes or whole bacteria to generate an electric current. We use bacteria in these systems to generate either bioelectricity (microbial fuel cells [MFCs]) or biochemicals (microbial electrolysis cells [MECs]) from organic material in wastes. In addition, we use these systems as biosensors.

We perform research on MFCs with either a diverse community of bacteria or a pure bacterial culture in the anode or cathode chambers. Our tenet is to study the mechanisms of electron transfer from bacteria to the electrode or vice versa, to optimize the reactor conditions, to overcome current limiting factors, and to design practical reactor configurations. We have published papers on the upflow microbial fuel cell (UMFC) a reactor concept that may be used one day as a practical wastewater treatment system that can produce electrical power. However, it is now also become clear that the electric power output will be low, and therefore a more potential lucrative idea is to generate useful products in the cathode of microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) from organic wastes that are oxidized in the anode.

 

International Microbial fuel cell web page

Read more about BESs in a book published by the International Water Association (IWA)