Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity from certain substrates. 2. They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates. 3. They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants to cleanse water and produce electricity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why? 1. They use living organisms as catalysts to generate electricity … Which of the statements given above is/are correct? — UPSC Prelims 2011 Answer & Explanation

Science & Technology2011

Microbial fuel cells are considered a source of sustainable energy. Why?

They use living organisms as catalysts to generate
They use a variety of inorganic materials as substrates.
They can be installed in wastewater treatment plants

to cleanse water and produce electricity. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Explanation

The correct option is "1 and 3 only" because microbial fuel cells (MFCs) utilize living microorganisms as biocatalysts to convert organic substrates into electricity, highlighting their potential for sustainable energy generation. Additionally, they can be integrated into wastewater treatment facilities, allowing for simultaneous water purification and energy production, thus presenting a dual benefit of environmental remediation and renewable energy. Statement 2 is incorrect as MFCs primarily rely on organic substrates rather than inorganic materials for electricity generation.

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