TEAM 1: BIOVOLT

Andrew Huizenga

Lindsay Arnold

Diane Esquivel

Jeff Christians

Need

http://scienceblogs.com/

http://kahdalea.com/

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Project Objectives Develop a commercially viable

Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)SustainablePortableSimple operationInexpensive

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Design Norms

TransparencyIntuitiveEasy maintenance

StewardshipCost effectiveEco-friendly

Cultural AppropriatenessCommon ingredients

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Experiments

Research Prototypes Simplified components

Agar salt bridge vs. proton exchange membrane (PEM)

No pump or filter Ease of reproducing and

testingEasy to dump and refillMultiple experimentsOptimization

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Experiments Media simplification

(substitution/elimination) Bacterial growth kinetics

Extreme environment resistance

Electrode surface area to chamber volume

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Experimental Results Final media

Baking soda, vinegar, table salt, phosphate, ammonium chloride in water

Similar results temperatures 18-30 °C

Withstands extreme variation in media

Surface area : volume ≈ 1cm2 : 1cm3

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 160

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

Prototype Output

Days of Operation

Vo

ltag

e (m

V)

Media Replaced Day 7

Design Decisions MFC Architecture

Proton exchange MFCAir cathodeWaste water

BacteriaGeobacter metallireducensGeobacter sulfurreducensRhodoferax ferrifeducens

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Design Decisions Electrode

Stainless steelGraphitePlatinum loaded graphite

MembraneProton Exchange Membrane (PEM)Salt bridge

Feeding ProcessContinuousBatch Semi-Batch

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Final Prototype

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Final Prototype

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Design Decisions

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Preliminary Results Voltage

666 mV with 975 kΩ Power

0.5 μW MFC in operation since

April 15th

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Conclusions Successful prototype

SustainablePortableSimple operationInexpensive

Technology has potential22 μW / m2 of electrodeLiterature cells produced ≈ 10-20 mW / m2

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Project Assessment Subpar performance due

to lack of platinum loaded electrodes

Effectively combined biology and engineering

Developed teamwork skills

Objectives Norms Experiments Final Design Conclusion Assessment

Acknowledgments Professor Sykes – Team mentor Professor Wertz – Biology consultant Mr. Spoelhof – Industrial consultant Professor VanAntwerp – Project idea Ben Johnson – Biology consultant Membranes International – Donated

proton exchange membrane