FLOATING-ANODE MICROBIAL FUEL CELL WITH THIN-LAYER HORIZONTAL FLOW

摘要

The present invention relates to a floating-anode microbial fuel cell. More specifically, the present invention relates to a microbial fuel cell having an anaerobic unit, an electrode unit and an outflow unit. In this microbial fuel cell, the electrode unit includes an anode disposed to float horizontally on surface water and a cathode provided horizontally at the bottom of a cathode-reaction tank, and a separating layer for separating the cathode and the anode. The microbial fuel cell is characterised in that the cathode is immersed in, by way of example, a liquid substance containing organic matter and sewage or waste water flowing in a thin fashion horizontally in an anaerobic state, and the anode is formed in such a way that it floats horizontally on the water surface with one of its surfaces in contact with an air layer, while the other surface is in contact with the water layer on the water surface. The microbial fuel cell according to the present invention is advantageous in that it can continuously produce electric power with a high yield from the liquid substance containing organic matter such as sewage or waste water, and it allows the organic matter to be stabilised.