Waste Not, Want Not

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BubblyLaugh
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Nov 02, 2013 11:23 am
Occupation: Student: 10th Grade
Project Question: Waste Not, Want Not: Use the Microbial Fuel Cell to Create Electricity from Waste
Project Due Date: Nov 22
Project Status: I am conducting my experiment

Waste Not, Want Not

Post by BubblyLaugh »

I'm working on the science experiment Waste Not, Want Not, making a microbial fuel cell. It gave me guidelines to create a fuel cell powered by mud and water.
My experiment hasn't produced any power whatsoever for two days... what did I do wrong?
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Former Expert
Posts: 1415
Joined: Sat Nov 08, 2003 11:27 pm
Occupation: Planetary Scientist
Project Question: N/A
Project Due Date: N/A
Project Status: Not applicable

Re: Waste Not, Want Not

Post by deleted-2131 »

Hi BubblyLaugh,

Without some more specifics, it is difficult to troubleshoot the problem. So, the more details you can provide the better! Here are some initial thoughts, but without more details I can't say much more - if you can tell me when the problem started, if you are using all the right materials, if you had any issues building the fuel cell, etc. I will be able to help you more. The more detail, the better.

Did it produce power initially? Or has it never produced power? Have you used the multimeter to double check that all of your connections are good? Did the temperature of the mud samples ever get below freezing or above boiling (in other words, could the microbes be dead?)

Like I said, post back with details and we will be better able to help you.
All the best,
Terik
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