Microbial Cell: Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel

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Jannah Asaad
Posts: 1
Joined: Sun Jan 15, 2012 9:10 pm
Occupation: Student
Project Question: microbial fuel cell:
Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel Cell to Create Electricity from Waste
Project Due Date: Jan.30th.2011
Project Status: I am conducting my experiment

Microbial Cell: Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel

Post by Jannah Asaad »

Hi;
So I'm going to be building the microbial cell I have a few questions
1- a material listed is a Straight-sided plastic (acrylic) storage containers so I went to target to look 4 them and they had none so I got regular plastic ones instead is that ok or do I NEED acrylic plastic? heres what something like I got: http://i.walmartimages.com/i/p/00/07/31 ... 00X500.jpg i think i should get smaller ones even if the regular plastic is ok. Do you know what store i can walk into and buy acrylic plastic containers?
2-Is it ok if i use epoxy instead of acrylic cement or DevCon Plastic Welder?
and....
3-Do you think I will be able to finish by Jan.30th?
Thank You Sooo Much
:)
deleted-71882
Former Expert
Posts: 338
Joined: Sun Jul 10, 2011 5:48 pm
Occupation: retired physicist
Project Question: n/a
Project Due Date: n/a
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Microbial Cell: Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial F

Post by deleted-71882 »

Hello Jannah Asaad,

1) The containers do not have to be acrylic plastic. Most household waterproof storage containers are okay except for one issue to remember. If you build the salt bridge as described in the project description, the containers need to have vertical walls; otherwise, the connected boxes won't sit level. The vertical-side acrylic boxes can be found at several places online. For example, http://www.containerstore.com/shop?prod ... ylic+boxes.

2) Any waterproof cement that sticks to your materials should be okay.

3) It seems like there are three phases to this experiment: getting the materials, constructing the cell, and running the experiment. The first two parts can be done in time if you find what you need and work hard. The project description suggests that you run the experiment for 30 days. Clearly you won't have time for that. In any case, you will need to get it together and running ASAP so you'll have time to see how it works over at least a few days.

Good luck, WW
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