Using Solar Energy to Power a Microbial Electrolysis Cell

The advantages and disadvantages of using bioelectrochemical methane production using a microbial electrolysis cell (MEC) are shown. The purpose of the work is to assess experimentally the possibility of supplying power to the microbial electrolysis cell of an experimental biogas plant. The results of experiments on studying the electrical resistance values of the substrate between the MEC electrodes in a developed biogas plant with an integrated microbial electrolysis cell with a physical barrier are presented. The data obtained confirm the possibility of MEC operation through the use of solar energy. They also enable one to speak about the development of electroactive microorganisms that change the characteristic values of the substrate resistance when a difference of potentials is applied to the MEC electrodes.