Chromium hexacyanoferrate as a cathode material in microbial fuel cells

In this work, it has been demonstrated that the disadvantages associated with the use of the potassium ferricyanide solution as the catholyte in a microbial fuel cell (MFC) were overcome by using a graphite cathode electrochemically modified with chromium hexacyanoferrate (CrHCF) film. The existing use of potassium ferricyanide solution as the catholyte is limited by the need to replace the catholyte every week and it cannot be used in a sustained manner. The present work evaluates the suitability of the CrHCF modified film as a suitable cathode material in a prototype of a MFC wherein Hansenula anomala is used as the biocatalyst in the anode compartment. The CrHCF film was prepared in the presence of the dopant camphor sulphonic acid to improve the reversibility of the film in phosphate buffer.