Reactor Design and Scale-Up

This chapter discusses microbial fuel cell (MFC) reactor design and the important area of scale-up, the mechanism by which laboratory experimentation can be brought to industrially relevant and cost-effective use, while being able to accept and process appropriate feedstocks. Performance indicators are needed to establish design and operational criteria; in particular, the importance of their measurement, applicability, and the factors that affect system efficacy. Several cell architectures have been proposed for improved functionality, control mechanisms, connectivity, and the integration of MFCs with other systems. The prospects for MFC technology may lie in using the energy derived from oxidizing wastes at the anode, driving useful reactions at the cathode, in scaled-up systems to maximize potential economic benefits.