A microbial fuel cell is a device that converts chemical energy to electrical energy by the catalytic reaction of micro-organisms. A typical microbial fuel cell consists of anode and cathode compartments separated by a cation specific membrane. In the anode compartment, fuel is oxidized by micro-organisms, generating electrons and protons. Electrons are transferred to the cathode compartment through an external electric circuit, and the protons are transferred to the cathode compartment through the membrane. Electrons and protons are consumed in the cathode compartment, combining for example with oxygen to form water. The oxygen reduction reaction might be catalysed on the cathode using mineral catalysts (Pt, Co,…) and biological or microbiological catalysts (Enzyme, Electrochemically-active biofilms).
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