Effect of two anodic materials and Ru_xMo_ySe _z as a cathode catalyst on the performance of two singlw chamber microbial fuel cells

The objectives of this work were to evaluate (i) the application of a bimetallic chalcogenide, Ru_xMo_ySe_z, as an oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) catalyst and (ii) the effect of the type of two anodic materials on the performance of two microbial fuel cells (MFCs). A single chamber MFC-T was built with a plexiglass cylinder, the two extreme circular faces were fitted with PEM-cathode assemblage, i.e., left and right faces. The anode consisted of 65 small triangular pieces of graphite filling the anodic chamber. A second MFC-C had a 'sandwich' arrangement anode-PEM-cathode. The cathodes were made of flexible carbon-cloth containing catalysts loading of 1mg/cm² Ru_xMo_ySe_z or 0.5mg/cm ² Pt. Power derived by cell T with cathode chalcogenide catalyst was 43% inferior to that of a similar cell with Pt although the cost of the first catalyst is significantly lower than that of Pt, i.e., 73% lower. Finally, application of graphite anode made of small triangular pieces significantly improved the performance of a MFC-T that used Ru_xMo _ySe_z as a cathodic catalyst for ORR.