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Emil P. Kartalov

 

Emil P. Kartalov

Naval Postgraduate School, USA

Abstract Title: 3D-Printed Microfluidic Benthic Biofuel Cells

Biography: Emil Kartalov holds a B.S. in Physics, M.S. in Applied Physics, and Ph.D. in Applied Physics, all from California Institute of Technology. In 2004, Dr. Kartalov joined the University of Southern California (USC) as a postdoctoral scholar. In 2006, he won a K99/R00 career award from NIH and became faculty at USC in 2008. In 2016, Dr. Kartalov moved to the Naval Postgraduate School to take his current position as Associate Professor of Physics and Director of the Advanced Warfighter Technologies Laboratory. Dr. Kartalov has 32 issued US patents and 33 peer-reviewed publications.

Research Interest: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) represent a promising avenue for sustainable energy production by harnessing the metabolic activity of microorganisms. In this study, a novel design of MFC—a Microfluidic Benthic Microbial Fuel Cell (MBMFC)—was developed, fabricated, and tested to evaluate its electrical energy generation. The design focused on balancing microfluidic architecture and wiring procedures with microbial community dynamics to maximize power output and allow for upscaling and thus practical implementation. The testing phase involved experimentation to evaluate the performance of the MBMFC. Microbial feedstock was varied to assess its impact on power generation. The designed MBMFC represents a promising advancement in the field of bioenergy generation. By integrating innovative design principles with advanced fabrication techniques, this study demonstrates a systematic approach to optimizing MFC performance for sustainable and clean energy production.