Potassium permanganate as an electron receiver in a microbial fuel cell

Microbial fuel cells with air as a cathode electron receiver are simple systems but they need expensive catalysts. In comparison to microbial fuel cells with oxygen as an electron receiver, microbial fuel cells with potassium permanganate produce higher voltage. In this study, electrical performance of a microbial fuel cells containing anaerobic sludge and potassium permanganate as an oxidizing agent was investigated. Glucose (1 g/l) was used as a carbon and energy source. The maximum power density and current density at the maximum power density were 93.13 mW/m(2) and 0.030 mA/cm(2) with respect to a potassium permanganate concentration of 400 mu M. It is observed that the maximum power density increased to 114.00 mW/m(2) using an acid-heat treated carbon brush anode. Also, chemical oxygen demand removal was 51% when the microbial fuel cells was operated using 400 mu M of potassium permanganate.