With readily-available chemicals (such as methylene blue), this fuel cell can be used to generate a small electrical current from the metabolic activities of ordinary yeast.

The microbial fuel cell is ideal for investigations of respiration and students have even won prizes with it at international science fairs.

You will also need:

•Potassium hexacyanoferrate (III)
•Methylene blue
•Yeast
•Glucose
•J-cloth (or similar non-woven cleaning cloth)
•Chemicals for making phosphate buffer, pH 7
•10 mL syringes, 2
•Scissors
•Electrical leads and voltmeter