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 following statements given above is/ are correct?

QUESTION

Hard

Environment & Ecology

Prelims 2011

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why?

They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates.
They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates.
They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity.

Which of the following statements given above is/ are correct?

Select an option to attempt

Explanation

Statement 1 is Correct: Microbial Fuel Cells (MFCs) utilize living microorganisms, such as electroactive bacteria, as biocatalysts to oxidize organic matter and convert chemical energy directly into electrical energy.

Statement 2 is Incorrect: MFCs primarily use organic substrates (such as glucose, acetate, or organic waste) to generate electricity. They do not use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates; the process specifically relies on the decomposition of organic compounds.

Statement 3 is Correct: MFCs can be integrated into wastewater treatment processes where bacteria consume organic pollutants in the water, effectively purifying the water while simultaneously producing electricity as a byproduct.

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