Fig.4 Impedance of MFC with CFBC, PtCPC and PCPC electrodes in algae aeration Conclusion MFC performance in photoautotrophic algae (Scenedesmus. obliquus) aeration with different cathode electrodes Ramesh Kakarla and Booki Min* Department of Environmental Science and Engineering, Kyung Hee University, 1 Seocheon-dong, Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do , Republic of Korea  Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a system which depends on the anodic electron generation and cathodic electron reduction. Cathodic reduction need oxygen or other oxidizing chemicals as a final electron acceptor.  Here we focused on algae (Scenedemus obliquus) as an oxygen supplier for MFC cathode by growing algae in the cathode chamber using light energy and bicarbonate as a carbon source.  The effect of algae growth and dissolved oxygen (DO) on cathode potential was tested to maximize the power generation of MFC. The MFC performance in algae aeration was evaluated with three different cathode electrodes. Microbial fuel cell configuration and operation  An H-type MFC made of glass was operated at 30±1˚C in temperature controlled incubator with a light source. Each chamber has a total volume of 280 ml (working volume, 250 ml).  Plain carbon paper was used as anode, and carbon fiber brush or 0.10 mg/cm 2 platinum coated carbon paper or plain carbon paper was used as cathode with a surface area of 22.4 cm 2. Anode and cathode chambers were separated by pretreated proton exchange membrane (Nafion -117).  An external resistance of 1000 Ω was used and continuous data collections were made with use of a data collection system (Keithley). Introduction Results and discussion Acknowledgements: This study was funded by NRF of Korea (No 2012R1A1A ) and Brain Korea 21 Plus project ( ) Effect of surface area and catalyst on MFC performance Fig.1 Voltage and DO concentration in MFC with CFBC (a) PtCPC (b) and PCPC (c) in algae aeration Fig.2 Polarizations of MFC, voltage and power density as function of current density with CFBC (a) PtCPC (b) and PCPC (c) in algae aeration. Polarization behavior of MFC with different cathode electrodes CV analysis Fig.3 Cyclic voltammogram analysis of oxygen reductions on CFBC (a) PtCPC (b) and PCPC (c) in algal aeration. Environmental Biotechnology Laboratory for Water and Energy EIS measurement A A Kyung Hee University The 2nd AP-ISMET Meeting Bioelectrochemical Science and Technologies for Environmental Applications B A B C C  Microalgae S. obliquus attached on the cathode were able to support MFC voltage generation by producing oxygen in the cathode chamber.  Even though the PtCPC cathode performance was higher compared to CFBC and PCPC, the use of precious metal catalysts like platinum is n ot feasible for filed scale operation and its cathode potential can be significantly effected with presence of bicarbonate anions.  The use of high surface area cathode electrodes like carbon brush could increase the cell performance with net yields.  Supplement of oxygen from algal photosynthesis for MFC operation seems to be beneficial compared to typical mechanical aeration with less energy consumption.