What You Need to Know
In MFCs, mesophilic bacteria such as Geobacter and Shewanella oxidize food waste substrates, transferring electrons through outer membrane cytochromes to the anode. The electrons flow through an external circuit to the cathode, where they reduce oxygen or other electron acceptors, generating a measurable voltage. The process simultaneously reduces the chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the waste.
The Science
Primary Reaction
Anaerobic oxidation of organic matter by electrogenic bacteria producing electrons transferred to the anode