(760a) Optimizing Factors to Increase Soil Microbial Fuel Cell Performance

As the global climate crisis continues to worsen, the need for more alternative renewable energy sources increases. Microbial fuel cells have been used in recent technologies as green energy sources that do not contribute greenhouse gases, potentially even lowering pollutant soil concentration. These cells generally consist of an anode which is submersed in soil for access to bacteria and a cathode which has open access to oxygen in the air. While studies have proven microbial fuel cells to have long term energy harvesting capabilities with minimal interference necessary, the power output remains low. To combat this limitation, we must analyze the soil conditions to determine which factors most affect the electrical output potential of the fuel cell. By testing various temperatures, soil moisture contents, and soil sample types, an equation can be derived to find the optimal conditions for a soil microbial fuel cell. By optimizing the environmental factors and their influence over a fuel cell’s potential, this technology can become more useful in daily and common life.