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Jennifer G. Becker, Ph.D.

Conversion of Organic Solid Wastes and Cellulosic Feedstocks to Electricity via Microbial Fuel Cells

Projects:

Development a Prototype Microbial Fuel Cell and Treatment System for Electricity Production from Municipal Solid Waste

Funding: Michigan Technological University-Research Excellence Fund

Development of a novel microbial fuel cell for production of renewable energy from insoluble agricultural wastes

Funding: Maryland Agricultural Experiment Station, University of

Maryland General Research Board

Description:

Elements of tubular air cathode microbial fuel cells (MFCs) and solid substrate leach bed bioreactors were integrated to develop a new MFC in which cellulose hydrolysis, fermentation reactions, and anode respiration were achieved in the anode compartment. Electricity production from a minimally processed lignocellulosic crop residue (corncobs) was sustained for >60 d (Gregoire and Becker, 2012).

Microbial fuel cells diagram

Students:

• Kyla Gregoire (M.S., 2010)

• Simeng Li (current M.S. student, Environmental Engineering)

Simeng Li

Related manuscripts:

• Gregoire, K. P., and J. G. Becker. 2012. Design and characterization of a microbial fuel cell for the conversion of a lignocellulosic crop residue to electricity. Bioresource Technology. 119:208-215. L