User:Baileyk
From MicrobeWiki, the student-edited microbiology resource
Introduction
By [Kyle Bailey]
Metal Respiration
Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC)
![](/images/thumb/6/68/Geo2.jpg/300px-Geo2.jpg)
Figure 2. A diagram of a (microbial fuel cell) MFC containing a graphite anode that is serving as a final electron acceptor. The bacteria are performing anaerobic microbial oxidation on the various organic compounds present. In the middle of the anaerobic anode and aerobic cathode is a proton diffusion layer that separates them showing that water is formed at the cathode (Franks and Nevin., 2010).
![](/images/thumb/3/33/Geo3.jpg/300px-Geo3.jpg)
Figure 3. In current producing biofilms bacterial cells conduct electron transfer using membrane bound cytochromes. The bacterial cells use a long range network capable of conducting electron flow from the farthest cells to the closest ones to the anode. Oxidation of the organic substrate leads to a high concentration of protons under the biofilm mass where it is highest towards the anode (Franks and Nevin., 2010).
Conclusion
Overall text length at least 3,000 words, with at least 3 figures.
References
Edited by student of Joan Slonczewski for BIOL 238 Microbiology, 2011, Kenyon College.