Biofilm capacitance and mixed culture bacteria influence on performance of Microbial Fuel Cells-Electrochemical impedance studies

Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy is employed to understand the role of biological capacitance and individual component resistance in the bioelectricity generation throughout the lifetime of the microbial fuel cells. Gram stain analysis and optical microscopy supported the predominant growth of rod shaped geobacter culture in sweet lime based microbial fuel cells. The anodic capacitance during initial bacterial growth and biofilm formation (1-9 days) is 6 times higher than the literature data. The anodic capacitance decreased to 0.52mF on day 24 and anodic polarization resistance increased to913.8Ω due to fungal formation. The power density calculated on day24 being 497.1mW/m2 which is approximately 3times higher than the literature data.