Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why?1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates.3. They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity.Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
✓ Correct answer: c) 1 and 3 only
ExplanationMicrobial fuel cells (MFCs) are a bioelectrochemical technique, proposed to generate power using electrons from biological reactions in microorganisms.Statement 1 is correct: These devices primarily use bacteria as catalysts to break down organic and inorganic substances, generating electrical current.Statement 2 is incorrect: Microorganisms oxidise organic compounds, not inorganic substrates in the anode chamber, producing electrons and protons (reaction of anodes).Statement 3 is correct: An MFC typically consists of two electrodes: the anode and the cathode.At the anode, bacteria decompose organic matter in wastewater, producing electrons and protons.The electrons travel through an external circuit to the cathode, generating electricity, while the protons move from the anode to the cathode.At the cathode, the electrons and protons combine with an electron acceptor, such as oxygen, to form water.As a result, MFCs can be implemented in wastewater treatment facilities to purify water and generate electricity.203
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