Make a Microbial Fuel Cell (MFC) - Part 1

Step 6 Assembling the Reactor - Part I

Now its time to bring it all home.

Cut a hole in each of the reactor bottles at the same height equal to the outside diameter of the slip caps. Holding the bridge pipe upright remove the temporary slip cap. Cut a circle of silkscreen material (pantyhose might work) or other plastic mesh to the diameter of the pipe. Place the silkscreen over the agar. Now get the slip caps we drilled out when we created the salt bridge and verify that they hold the agar/electrolyte. Place glue on the pipe and seat the slip cap.

Depending on the screen material used to hold the agar/electrolyte solution in place it it probably possible to use the slip bushing (pictured). This would be secured to the side of the bottle and the saltr bridge inserted into with a sleeve of retaining mesh held in place by the bushing. The bushing is held in place with hot glue and the salt bridge secured with it.

Now we're going to prepare a conductive solution for the cathode chamber. Again using the solubility of salt maxes out at 400g/L we're going to prepare enough solution fill one bottle. Heating the water and other suggestions that were used during creating the salt bridge also apply here. If heat is used allow the water to cool completely before proceeding.